The Lower Columbia College Red Devils defended their NWAACC Championship with a 73-60 victory over the Pierce Raiders at the Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick. Tournament MVP Omar Krayem scored 16 points to lead the way. First team all-tourney Germain Jordan added 12 points and 15 rebounds. Steve Trotter was also solid with 13 points and 10 boards and Brett Tompkins had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Tompkins was named second team all-tourney.
After going 50 years without a championship, Jim Roffler has led LCC to back-to-back titles. LCC has gone 8-0 in the past two tournaments, all in Kennewick. It was a great showing for the Western Region of the NWAACC as three of the final four teams hailed from the division. Pierce had an outstanding season and fell just short after defeating LCC twice in league play. Grays Harbor had a great year, taking 6th place. LCC had defeated the Chokers in the semi-finals.
Krayem played outstanding during the tournament and it was his spark in the quarter-finals that may have been the most important. Down 19-2 to Peninsula five minutes into the game, Krayem scored 20 first half points to get LCC into a halftime tie and on to a hard-fought win.
As for Coach Roffler, he continues to show why he is one of the great college coaches in the country. He earlier earned his 300th victory and capped off the season with his second straight championship. His work to try and three-peat has already begun.
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