Union-Bulletin

WALLA WALLA - Center Emery Henning scored a game-high 29 points and guard Jason Smith added 20 to lead Walla Walla Community College to an 87-76 victory over Yakima Valley in an NWAACC Eastern Region men's basketball game Wednesday night in the Dietrich Dome.

Henning also contributed 11 rebounds and seven assists. WWCC had 51 boards to YVC's 34 and dished out 18 assists in the game.

The Warriors, who extended their winning steak to four games, assumed sole possession of third place in the league with the win. WWCC is now 7-3 in the East, 15-5 overall, and just one-half game behind Big Bend and Spokane, who are both 7-2. The Vikings and Sasquatch were idle on Wednesday.

"This is as sweet a win as I've had in a long time," WWCC coach Jeff Reinland said. "I wanted that game for our kids so bad. I was so juiced for this game, I think I aged about 10 years."

Walla Walla, which never trailed in the game, got off to a quick start and took a 31-21 lead on two Ryan Andrews' free throws at the 6:23 mark of half one.

The advantage twice edged up to 11 - 36-25 on a Smith 3-pointer with 4:50 remaining and 38-27 on a pair of Henning charity tosses.

The Warriors led 45-38 at halftime.

Henning, who scored 18 points in the second half, tallied in the low post with 6:46 to go to give the Warriors a 13-point spread, 70-57.

Andrews and D.J. Wright provided big points down the stretch with efforts that climaxed with the shot-clock buzzer sounding. Andrews converted a three-point play with 3:23 on the game clock to give WWCC a 79-65 lead and Wright drained an off-balance jumper in the lane at the 2:36 mark to put the Warriors in front, 81-67.

Two more Henning free throws with 1:11 showing brought the score to 84-70.

"I'm proud of them," Reinland said. "We played hard. We did a good job getting the ball to Emery.

"Jason played well," Reinland said. "Nate (Gibson) did a good job defensively and was patient running the offense. Ryan did a good job handling their pressure.

"This was a great night for Warrior basketball."

WWCC hits the road Saturday for a league counter with Wenatchee Valley.

YVC (76) - Skelton 3-6 0-0 7, May 0-0 0-0 0, Blodgett 0-6 0-0 0, De. Wilson 5-7 0-0 12, Da. Wilson 4-11 2-2 10, Evans 1-1 0-0 3, Kidd 4-11 3-5 11, Dornik 8-14 0-0 20, January 2-8 0-2 4, Kirvin 4-11 1-3 9, Gream 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 31-77 6-12 76.

WWCC (87) - Wright 4-7 1-2 9, Roll 0-0 0-0 0, Andrews 3-7 4-5 11, Steele 1-2 0-0 2, Gibson 1-2 1-2 3, Van de Graaf 1-5 0-0 3, Schulz 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 7-11 0-0 20, Moore 2-3 0-0 6, Corsi 1-5 0-0 2, Henning 11-17 7-8 29, Baker 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 32-61 13-17 87.

Halftime score - WWCC 45, YVC 38. 3-point goals - YVC 8-21 (Dornik 4-8, De. Wilson 2-4, Evans 1-1, Skelton 1-2, Kidd 0-1, January 0-1, Blodgett 0-2, Da. Wilson 0-2), WWCC 10-23 (Smith 6-10, Moore 2-3, Andrews 1-4, Van de Graaf 1-4, Wright 0-2). Total fouls-YVC 17, WWCC 11. Fouled out-YVC (Da. Wilson). Technical fouls-none. Rebounds-YVC 34 (Kirven 8), WWCC 51 (Henning 11). Turnovers-YVC 8, WWCC 20. Assists-YVC 8 (Skelton 2, Blodgett 2, Da. Wilson 2), WWCC 18 (Henning 7).