Clark falls short in championship game of tournament

A 60-point outburst in the second half Sunday lifted Clackamas Community College over host Clark College in the championship game of the NWAACC Crossover Tournament.

Chehales Tapscott led Clackamas with 21 points, and Prairie graduate Jeff Dorman had 20. Dorman was 8 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

Derek Thurston, a graduate of Columbia River, had team highs of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists for Clark. But Thurston struggled from the field, going 4 of 15 as the Penguins shot 41 percent for the game.

Clark also was hampered by a 13-of-28 performance from the free-throw line.

The tournament was one of four held this weekend for teams in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, bringing together two teams from each of the organization’s four divisions.

Clark reached the title game of the eight-team tournament by defeating Edmonds and Columbia Basin. But then it ran into the defending NWAACC champion.

Clackamas led 38-26 at the half before outscoring the Penguins 60-42 in the second half. The Cougars shot 66 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes.