Clark men’s hoops wins at Chemeketa

The Clark College men’s basketball team has won back-to-back games for the first time since December.

And that follows an eight-game losing streak.

The Penguins beat Chemeketa 94-87 on Saturday at Salem, Ore., and is three games back of the final playoff position in the NWAC South division with four games to play.

Clark (10-14, 3-9 NWAC South) trailed at halftime 49-35, but then had a hot second half., shooting 61 percent from the floor.

The Penguins were down 75-60 with 10:35 to play and went on a 19-2 run to take a 79-77 lead. Chemeketa would tie the game at 83, and Sean Johnson’s 3-pointer with 3:09 to play put Clark ahead for good.

King’s Way Christian High grad Matt Garrison had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Penguins. He also had two blocked shots.

Johnson led five Penguins in double figures with 22 points. He also had seven rebounds. Colton Gorski had 19 points, Dylan Hushaw had 14, and Union High grad Ethan Smith had 12.

WOMEN: AT CHEMEKETA 77, CLARK 48 — Jozey Martellaro scored a team-high 11 points, Jodi Thomasian had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Turner Joy had 13 rebounds for the Penguins (5-17, 1-11).