The fifth-ranked Spokane Sasquatch got more than it could handle as the Lower Columbia Red Devils pounced early and never let off the gas in a 69-43 upset in the first round of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges men’s basketball tournament. Lower Columbia came out hot and converted on 54 percent of their shots from the field in the first half while Spokane was held to 26 percent in the same period as the Red Devils jumped out to a 34-21 halftime lead.
 
The trend continued as Lower Columbia shot 55 percent for the game and Spokane shot just 27 percent overall from the floor.

“We got off to a really slow start offensively and never really got back in the game,” said Spokane coach Clint Hull. “There was one stretch early in the second half where we were getting the stops we wanted, but we just couldn’t convert on the offensive end. “
 
Derek Gianukakis led the way for Spokane with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Kevin Cameron led the Sasquatch with six assists. 
 

The Devils were paced by a trio of double digit scorers as Marice Tolliver (15 pts), Alex King (12 pts) and Ryan Freeman (11 pts) combined for over half of the Red Devil points.
 
Lower Columbia will play the winner of the 10pm game, Chemeketa tomorrow at 8pm while Spokane will take on the loser of that game, Skagit Valley, in the consolation bracket at 10pm.