The Clark College men’s basketball team was in need of a victory to keep its slim playoff hopes alive and it nearly happened against NWAC No. 3-ranked Clackamas.
However, Clackamas weathered the storm to pull out an 85-80 overtime victory Wednesday night at the O’Connell Sports Center.
The loss, plus Chemeketa’s 78-63 win over Lane, eliminates the Penguins (10-15, 3-10 NWAC South) from NWAC postseason contention.
There were 11 ties and nine lead changes between Clark and first-place Clackamas (24-2, 13-1), ranked third in the most recent NWAC coaches poll.
Clackamas’ Robert Ford, who had a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds, made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 76-76 with 1:05 to play.
Clark missed two 3-point attempts and Clackamas failed to convert on its last shot, sending the game into overtime.
Zach Rivers put the Penguins ahead 79-76 with a layup, and later Sean Johnson made a free throw for an 80-78 Clark lead with 2:43 to play.
The Penguins would miss their next four shots from the field while Clackamas put together a 7-0 run from the free-throw line, making 7 of 8 attempts, to pull away.
Dylan Hushaw’s 22 points led the Penguins in scoring, while Johnson finished with a double-double of 13 points and team-high 13 rebounds.
Rivers added 10 points and five assists, and Union High grad Ethan Smith had 10 points.
WOMEN: CLACKAMAS 82, CLARK 69 — Freshman Chyna Finley scored a season-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and three assists for the Penguins (5-18, 1-12) in the home loss to No. 4-ranked Clackamas (20-5, 10-4).
Sarah Gleockler had a season-high 11 points, and Alexus Hunter had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists for Clark.
UP NEXT: The Clark teams travel to Albany, Ore., to take on Linn-Benton on Saturday.
