Carl Howell has enjoyed all the riches Tacoma Community College men’s basketball has brought him, including his second career Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges title last season.
But what he hasn’t had in a while is a true post player – until this season.
And it is quite the luxury, too. Darius Johnson-Wilson, last season’s SPSL South player of the year at Curtis High School, will be one to watch in his first season with the Titans.
Johnson-Wilson got TCC off to a hot start in its home opener Saturday night, then guards Darnell Williams and Jibreel Stevens finished it off as the Titans walloped Skagit Valley CC, 82-61.
TCC (3-2) avenged its loss to the Cardinals in their holiday tournament, 62-59, on Nov. 25 in Mount Vernon.
Eight of Johnson-Wilson’s 12 points came in the first five minutes, including two buckets on nifty spin moves in the lane, as TCC raced out to a 16-4 lead. The Titans started the game on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor.
Williams led TCC with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Stevens added 17, and Julian Vaughn chipped in 13.
At Whitman 81, PLU 68: Matt Mounier scored 20 points, and Ben Eisenhardt added 19 as the Missionaries completed a sweep of the Tacoma schools.
Eisenhardt made three consecutive baskets midway through the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers, as Whitman opened up a 33-24 lead.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
At Whitworth 72, UPS 59: Puyallup native Lauren Picha scored a game-high 18 points, leading the Pirates to a victory.
Picha made two 3-pointers in a row for Whitworth, which grabbed a 25-12 lead with 6:54 remaining in the first half.
At PLU 64, Concordia (Ore.) 58: Andi Adams’ free throw gave the Lutes the lead for good (53-52) as they battled back from an early nine-point deficit to win in Parkland.
The big shot was Megan Abdo’s 3-pointer with 2:24 to go that highlighted PLU’s decisive 8-0 run.
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