The Clark College men’s basketball team clinched a playoff beth with win over Southwestern Oregon on Saturday.
But the Penguinis missed a chance to put a stranglehold on the Northwest Athletic Conference South Division title with losses to Umpqua on Monday and Portland on Wednesday.
Clark (10-5) sits one-half game behind first-place Portland (11-4) entering the last week of the regular season. But the Penguins will need some help as the Panthers own the tiebreaker won both games against Clark in the regular season. Lane (10-5) is lurking in third place.
Men’s basketball
RECORD: 18-8, 10-4, 2nd in NWAC South.
Theo McMillian (Camas High) scored 19 points and Jackson Esary (Kalama High) added 18 points as the Penguins beat Southwestern Oregon, 78-64, Saturday to clinch a playoff berth. McMillan also had nine assists.
Esary (18.0 points per game) and McMillian (17.9 points) are Clark’s leading scorers.
That win came after a 82-64 loss to Portland on Wednesday in which the Panthers outscored the Penguins 48-28 in the second half. Esary scored 19 points and McMillan added 16 points for Clark.
The Penguins began the week Monday with an 81-68 loss to Umpqua, which snapped a five-game win streak.
THIS WEEK: After making up a postponed game against Linn-Benton on Monday, Clark ends the regular season at home Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. against against Chemeketa (3-12, 8-19).
Women’s basketball
RECORD: 13-14, 5-9, 7th in NWAC South.
The Penguins returned to winning ways with consecutive victories over Portland on Wednesday and Southwestern Oregon on Saturday.
Emily Peabody hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to deliver a thrilling 74-73 win over Portland. That came after Kaylee Foster put the Panthers ahead 73-71 with a 3-pointer with six seconds to play.
Peabody, a freshman from Spokane, scored a career-high 37 points and shot 6 for 8 from 3-point range.
On Saturday, the Penguins rallied for a 65-61 win over Southwestern Oregon for their third win in four games. Clark trailed 52-46 entering the fourth quarter but opened the quarter on a 16-3 run.
Ella Botnar, a freshman from Portland, led the Penguins with 22 points and 12 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season.
THIS WEEK: The Penguins conclude their season at home Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Chemeketa (19-9, 8-7).
