EVERETT — Clark men’s basketball team heads home from the NWAC tournament with a fifth-place trophy as Big Bend of Moses Lake won the third-place game, 99-86 on Sunday.
Clark, the defending NWAC champion, could not hold on to the ball, coughing it up 11 times in the loss.
“We got exposed a little bit these last couple of games,” Head Coach Alex Kirk said. “Our lack of skill against these two teams showed in our turnovers.”
Clark lost in the semifinal to Whatcom, 74-58, on Saturday night.
Big Bend (26-8) took the lead early in the game and at one point led the Penguins by 16. Although Clark managed to tie the game several times in the second half, the Vikings ultimately secured the third-place trophy.
Bryan Berg finished the tournament on top for the Penguins with 66 points — with 30 coming in Sunday’s loss — placing him as the leading scorer overall prior to the tournament before the championship game. The runner-up is Mogga Logo of Big Bend with 61 points, 27 coming against Clark.
“It’s been an unbelievable experience with this team, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” said Berg, a sophomore team captain from Tigard, Ore.
Fellow sophomore Darrius Mathis embraced an emotional Berg as he came off the floor after playing nearly 37 minutes for the last time as a Clark Penguin.
“I think he (Berg) is one of those kids we coaches dream about having in our program,” Kirk said. “He is a perfect example of what you get out of it what you put into it.”
Clark shot just 47 percent from the field in the loss to Big Bend who shot 58 percent from the floor. Clark made 39 points off 3-pointers alone.
Clark ends its season 23-9 after two disappointing postseason losses at Everett.
“I certainly knew that it was a possibility to lose to these two teams, but no, I did not expect this,” Kirk said.
(Click here for complete boxscore)
