Fast-starting LCSC surges into FC finals
Copyright of the Lewiston Morning Tribune

BUTTE, Mont. -- Not that George Pfeifer is complaining, but his Lewis-Clark State men's basketball team seems to have fallen into a rut during the Frontier Conference tournament.

As in their previous victory, the Warriors played a boiling first half and got a marquee performance from an unlikely source. That led to a 75-68 semifinal triumph for third-seeded LCSC over second-seeded Westminster on Friday afternoon.

The Warriors (24-8) will now try to repeat as champions of this tournament -- and nab the automatic berth in the NAIA Division I tournament that goes with the title. They'll take on Montana-Western tonight at 7 PST.

By halftime, LCSC had barreled to a 31-16 lead over the ninth-ranked Griffins. The margin was created by a 17-3 run during the middle portion of the half -- a sprint that included eight points from Justin Fraser.

Fraser, a Clarkston High graduate who transferred from Walla Walla Community College during the offseason, wound up with a game-high 16 points. The 5-11 reserve guard made 5 of 6 floor shots and 4 of 5 free throws.

"Justin came in and just went, whap, whap," Pfeifer said of the junior. "That was huge, and it started our run."

Five minutes into the second half, the Griffins had rallied to within nine. But after an L-C timeout, Joey Ray connected on a 3-pointer that ignited a 13-4 blitz.

Ray's basket came off a play the Warriors set up during the timeout.

"... It was a H-O-R-S-E shot," Pfeifer said. "The forward came flying at him, he shot-faked him and the guy ended up on our bench. (Ray) actually got to stand there and stare at the basket for two seconds before he shot it."

After halftime, the Griffins' shooting improved, as they went 17-for-37 from the floor, including a 6-for-13 mark from 3-point range. But they couldn't overcome their morbid 6-for-21 showing (28.6 percent) in the first half.

Shortly after its blowout of Montana State-Northern on Thursday, L-C turned its focus to the Griffins, Pfeifer said.

After that game, "I made some comment like, 'We can get prepared to play (Westminster), but we're going to have to meet in about an hour,' " he said. "Nobody flinched, and then we went into the room and the meeting lasted for 90 minutes. There were tons of questions asked, there was tons of interaction. So I really felt like we were dialed in."

In tonight's title tilt, LCSC will be without James Idoko. Midway through the second half, the senior post got into an altercation with Westminster's Shane Humphreys. Both players were called for technical fouls, and Idoko was ejected -- which carries a mandatory suspension for the following game.

Pfeifer said Humphreys made the first shove, then Idoko retaliated.

"Our guy got ejected because he's the guy they saw," Pfeifer said. "They always catch the second guy.

"I wish James hadn't of done it, but in light of what he had to endure, sometimes that stuff happens."

The Warriors continued their torrid shooting, connecting on 25 of 41 (61 percent) of their shots. They also made 9 of 16 3-pointers and 16 of 18 free throws.

Ray followed his strong first-round game with a 15-point performance. Danny Allen collected 12 points while John Moore registered nine points and three blocks.

Regardless of tonight's outcome, LCSC will almost certainly be awarded a place in the national tournament. It will be the first time in the program's history that the Warriors have made back-to-back trips to nationals.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (24-8)

Moore 3-6 3-3 9, Brothers 3-4 0-0 6, Pitts 0-1 0-0 0, Allen 5-7 0-0 12, Bishop 2-4 3-4 8, Ray 4-6 4-4 15, Fraser 5-6 4-5 16, Idoko 2-4 0-0 4, Tikker 1-3 2-2 5. Totals 25-41 16-18 75.

WESTMINSTER (23-9)

Booth 2-3 1-4 5, Mark 4-7 3-4 13, Cramer 2-7 0-0 6, Ruiz 6-15 3-5 16, Humphreys 3-11 4-4 11, Holcombe 0-0 0-0 0, Reeder 4-7 2-2 11, Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Buroker 2-6 0-0 6. Totals 23-58 13-19 68.

Halftime score -- LCSC 31, WC 16. Three-point goals -- LCSC 9-16 (Moore 0-1, Allen 2-3, Bishop 1-2, Ray 3-5, Fraser 2-3, Tikker 1-2); WC 9-22 (Mark 2-3, Cramer 2-2, Ruiz 1-4, Humphreys 1-6, Reeder 1-2, Buroker 2-5). Rebounds -- LCSC 27 (Brothers 5); WC 29 (Mark, Humphreys 6). Assists -- LCSC 13 (four with 2); WC 9 (Cramer 3). Total fouls -- LCSC 21; WC 18. Technical fouls -- Idoko, Humphreys. Fouled out -- Idoko, Cramer, Humphreys.