The flu knocked out Whatcom Community College's top player and two key reserves in the post, but the Orcas still had enough to beat visiting Vancouver Island 79-58 in a non-conference game on Saturday, Dec. 29.

Zach Stalin scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with his three assists and two steals, while Alex Duncan scored 21 points, logged a game-high five assists and added three rebounds and three steals.

"It was nice to see some production on the outside and the inside," WCC coach Chris Scrimsher said in a phone interview. "It was good to play everyone tonight, and hopefully that will pay off. Game experience is important, and everybody contributed in one fashion or another."

They needed to, with Kyle Impero - the team's leading scorer and the fifth-leading scorer in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges at 20.4 points per game - on the bench with the flu. Key post reserves Brenan Hartnell and Eric Fongue also missed the game.

"You could really tell the difference in size during warm-ups," Scrimsher said. "We're just fortunate it happened now. We head to league play (against Peninsula on Jan. 5)."

WCC (8-4) logged 14 steals and won the rebound battle 42-28 to jump out to a 45-24 lead by halftime.

WHATCOM 79, VANCOUVER ISLAND 58

Vancouver Island: Connor Billett 0, Harrison Stupich 0, Brandon Jones 7, Evan Verdel 0, Adam Connolly 12, Ryan Davidson 0, Clayton Billett 6, Jess Black 3, Jason McKee 3, Tyler Olsen 21, Eric D'Andrea 2, Trevor Davidson 4. Team totals: 23-55 9-15 58.

Whatcom: Tyler Clark 3, Daniel Neilsen 8, Alex Duncan 21, Greg Nelson 0, Nicholas Kussman 4, Neilan Pierce 0, Caleb Buchanan 5, Ian Tevis 6, Andrew Campbell 0, Zach Stalin 25, Chris Tanis 7. Team totals: 34-64 8-14 79.

Halftime score: WCC 45, Vancouver Island 24. 3-ptg: Vancouver Island 3-7 (Clayton Billet, Black, Olsen), WCC 3-15 (Buchanan, Duncan, Stalin). Rebounds: Vancouver Island 28 (Connolly 6), WCC 42 (Stalin 13). Assists: Vancouver Island 14 (Jones 4), WCC 16 (Duncan 5). Fouls: Vancouver Island 12, WCC 14. Turnovers: Vancouver Island 20, WCC 14.