MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Stalin dominates as Orcas bounce back from first loss

Although the Whatcom Community College men's basketball team came off its most disappointing loss of the season, it quickly forgot and moved on as it beat up on host Olympic College 114-76 on Monday, Jan. 30.

While it was big night for Whatcom as far as getting it back on the winning track, it was even more so for freshman post Zach Stalin. He scored a season-high 29 points while grabbing eight rebounds.

Stalin started for Marcus Bagnerise, who played but is still recovering from an injury.

"Zach was unstoppable," Whatcom coach Chris Scrimsher said in a phone interview. "He played great on both ends. I'm just proud of the way he played."

The Orcas (15-3, 7-1) got outworked and outplayed their last game in a 70-62 loss to Seattle Community College on Saturday. They were outrebounded by 16 even though they came into the game averaging the third most boards per game in the NWAACC.

However, in its bounce-back victory Monday, Whatcom outrebounded Olympic 41-28 and Scrimsher said he was pleased with the overall improvement in hustle as well.

"It was really evident from the game film that we didn't put out the effort our last game," Scrimsher said. "We talked about that effort and the defensive side of it. We wanted to give us the best chance to win the game with rebounding, defense and effort and we did that."

Whatcom's Evan Coulter had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Will Perry had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.

WHATCOM 114, OLYMPIC 76

Whatcom: Will Perry 16, Theo VandenEkart 6, Marcus Bagnerise 9, Derek Dickerson 12, Evan Coulter 21, Caleb Buchanan 3, Patrick Voeut 12, Zach Stalin 29, Chris Tanis 6. Team totals: 42-73 26-34 114.

Olympic: Cartiea French-Toney 16, Mauricio Modestin 13, Josh Koets 16, Tyree Bagley 9, Qui Jan Otis 3, Corey Foster 10, Will Kittendorf 3, Tre Haslom 2, Michael Mack 4. Team totals: 30-67 10-12 76.

Half: Whatcom 52-30

3-ptg: Whatcom 4-22 (Derek Dickerson 2), Olympic 6-16 (Mauricio Modestin 3). Rebounds: Whatcom 41 (Will Perry 10, Evan Coulter 8, Zach Stalin 8), Olympic 28 (Foster 7). Assists: Whatcom 20 (Patrick Voeut 6, Evan Coulter 5, Will Perry 5), Olympic 11 (Cartiea French-Toney 4). Fouls: Whatcom 15, Olympic 24. Turnovers: Whatcom 17, Olympic 23.