Yakima Valley Dominates 2nd Half to Claim NWAC Men’s Basketball Title

EVERETT, Wash. – The Yakima Valley men's basketball team used a dominant second half performance to win the 2022 NWAC Championships with a 70-57 victory over Bellevue on Sunday at Everett Community College.

Facing a hot-shooting Bellevue squad, the Yaks used a tough defensive effort to win the program's fourth-ever NWAC title and first since 2008. Yakima Valley held the Bulldogs to 31.8 percent shooting for the game, including a 23.5 percent mark in the second half. The perimeter defense for the Yaks was especially difficult for Bellevue, as the Bulldogs went 6-for-26 from outside the arc.

Bellevue had the hot hand to start the game and led by as many as nine points in the first half. The Yaks did a good job to narrow the gap before halftime, trailing just 34-32 heading to the halftime locker room. Out of the break, the Yaks took the lead within the first minute and never gave it back to the Bulldogs. YVC outscored Bellevue 38-23 in the second half and led by as many as 16 points.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Alexzander Delgado finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Yak point guard had an outstanding tournament, averaging 14 points with 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He shot 52.3 percent from the field and went 6-for-14 from behind the arc overall.

Godwin Ilumoka, selected to the All-Tournament Second Team, was the leading scorer for the Yaks in the championship game, finishing with 21 points to go with eight rebounds. Ilumoka had stretches of complete dominance slashing through the paint, shooting 10-for-17 overall. Quentin Raynor, who was named to the All-Tournament First Team, had 16 points and six boards. Christian Murphy, the Most Inspirational Player of the tournament, had 12 points and five boards.

For the Bulldogs, All-Tournament First Team selection Bishop Tosi led the team with 14 points and 11 assists. Fellow First Team selection Maui Sze had 14 points. Nate Johnson, who was named to the Second Team, had 13 points with six rebounds.  

The Yaks, the No. 3-seed out of the East Region, went on an incredible run to earn the title. The team won two games by one possession, including a 60-58 win in the opening round over Green River and the miraculous 77-76 comeback victory against Olympic in the semifinals. Sunday's championship win was the largest margin of victory in the tourney for the Yaks.

All-Tournament Team

Tournament MVP
Alexzander Delgado, Yakima Valley

Most Inspirational
Christian Murphy, Yakima Valley

First Team
Isaac Jones, Wenatchee Valley
Aundree Polk, Olympic

Quentin Raynor, Yakima Valley
Maui Sze, Bellevue
Bishop Tosi, Bellevue

Second Team
Godwin Ilumoka, Yakima Valley
Nate Johnson, Bellevue
Christian Murphy, Yakima Valley
Anthony Roy, Wenatchee Valley
Tyler Williford, Olympic

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Contact: Iain Dexter; idexter@clark.edu