8 things to know about the NW event bringing thousands of athletes, $400K to Tri-Cities
Here are 8 things to know about this week’s men’s and women’s Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) basketball tournaments, which will bring thousands of college athletes to the Tri-Cities over the next two weeks.
The 2024 NWAC basketball championships are worth more than $400,000 to the Tri-Cities economy, according to Visit Tri-Cities. The region’s tourism promotion agency bid for the championships in 2022.
The NWAC board of directors chose the Tri-Cities to host the event for three years, 2023-2025.
“It takes great collaboration to host championship events like this.” said Kevin Lewis, President & CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “We appreciate the Visit Tri-Cities Sports Development Team for connecting the people, places, and event organizers together to facilitate such an important event.”
1. The Basics
Men’s tournament begins at noon Wednesday, March 6, with Columbia Basin College taking on South Puget Sound.
The 16 teams get pared down to the final 4 over the Wednesday through Friday.
The women’s tournament begins on Friday, March 8, and runs through March 10 to get the 16 teams down to four.
On Saturday, March 16, the last four men’s and women’s teams play, with the winning teams in the championships on Sunday, March 17.
Tickets can be purchased online at NWAC sports.com, or in person at the Columbia Basin College Student Recreation Center.
There will be a new men’s champion this year because Bellevue did not return to the tournament.
Lane is in the women’s field, and it is the defending tournament champion.
2. Favorites
According to the final NWAC Coaches Polls that came out this week, the top four men’s teams are Lower Columbia, Portland, Treasure Valley and Green River.
The top four women’s team are hometown favorite Columbia Basin, Lane, Umpqua and Peninsula.
3. Double trouble
Over half of the tournaments’ fields have both men’s and women’s teams playing: CBC, Edmonds, Green River, Lane, Lower Columbia, Peninsula, Portland, Treasure Valley and Walla Walla.
4. Top players (men)
Top 5 scorers coming in: 1. Brady Grier, Walla Walla, 23.2 points; 2. Ta’Veus Randle, CBC, 22.4; 3. TJ Zimmerman, Linn-Benton, 21.7; 4. Jahvari Martino, Portland, 21.6; 5. Ese Onakpoma, Peninsula, 19.8.
Top 5 rebounders coming in: 1. Sylas Williams, Skagit Valley, 13.6 rebounds; 2. Chae Haynes, Tacoma, 11.4; 3. Brady Grier, Walla Walla, 10.5; 4. TJ Zimmerman, Linn-Benton, 10.4; 5. Jaiden Feroah, Green River, 10.0.
Top 5 passers coming in: 1. Jerry Hayes, Skagit Valley, 6.0 assists; 2. Peyton Nordland, Green River, 5.3; 3. Jailin Johnson, Everett, 4.8; 4. Ethan Martin, Everett, 4.4; 5. Jean Blackmore, Lane, 4.3.
5. Top players (women)
Top 6 scorers coming in: 1. Brooklyn Fely, Umpqua, 20.3 points; 2. Callie Glenn, Clackamas, 19.6; 3. Brielle Magnuson, Walla Walla, 17.7; 4. Taylor Eldredge, Shoreline, 17.2; 5. (tie), Madison Gore, Centralia, 17.0; Trinidie Nichols, Columbia Basin, 17.0.
Top 5 rebounders coming in: 1. Brooklyn Fely, Umpqua, 13.1 rebounds; 2. Keshara Romain, Pierce, 12.4; 3. Karlee Vonmoos, Lower Columbia, 10.0; 4. Natalie Brown, Edmonds, 9.6; 5., Chloe Daniels, Lane, 9.4.
Top 5 passers coming in: 1. (tie), Callie Glenn, Clackamas, 5.3 assists; Trinidie Nichols, CBC, 5.3; 3. Micah Wicks, Lane, 4.8; 4. (tie), Cara Dineen, Portland, 4.4; Zoe Archibald, Treasure Valley, 4.4.
6. Some local flavor
Wanna see some of the area’s former high school stars? Here are the players on active rosters (men): Jacob Bilodeau, Skagit Valley (Kamiakin); Dacio Barbosa, CBC (Chiawana); Mason Finley, Walla Walla (Waitsburg); Jonah Gebers, Spokane (Kennewick); Twazae Gladney, Jr., CBC (Richland); Javon Handcox, CBC (Walla Walla); Jayden Martinez, CBC (Chiawana); Brock Streufert, CBC (Richland); Charlie Tipke-Henry, Walla Walla (Kennewick).
Here are the local connections for the women: Dani Angel, Green River (Milton-Freewater); Malia Cortes, Walla Walla (Prosser); Aniyah Heavens, CBC (Chiawana); Emma Leber, Walla Walla (Milton-Freewater); Faith McCarty, Yakima Valley (Echo); Skyln Munson, CBC (River View); Alyna Ramirez, Green River (Sunnyside); Darby Rhoads, Walla Walla (Milton-Freewater); Maggie Sharp, Treasure Valley (Stanfield); Paris Wilson, Yakima Valley (Sunnyside).
7. The tall and short of it
In the men’s tournament, Spokane Community College’s Malachi Bullington stand 7-foot-1; South Puget Sound’s Jamaal Elliot is 5-8.
For the women, Jazzma Pennerman of Edmonds checks in at 6-foot-4; Peninsula’s Hannah Bates is 5-foot-1.
8. Where is everybody from?
As you would expect since most teams are from Washington and Oregon, the majority of players come from those states: Washington men, 69 players; Oregon men, 33; Washington women, 78; Oregon women 40.
The next three for men? Utah boasts 21 players, while Idaho is at 14 and California with 10.
On the women’s side, Utah is represented 22 times, Idaho has 19 and Hawaii is next with 9.
Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald
