The Spokane Sasquatch opened the 2018-19 Northwest Athletic Conference Basketball season with the 32nd Red Devil Classic held at Myklebust Gym in Longview, Washington.
Averaging 89 points per game through three games, the Sasquatch continued to flex their muscles winning the Red Devil Classic and outscoring opponents by about 15 points a game. For the fourth year in a row it was Spokane and Everett for the championship of the 2018 Red Devil Classic. Twelve lead changes and a few free throws down the stretch wheeled the Sasquatch to a 93-85 victory making Spokane the 2018-19 Red Devil Classic champions.
Spokane was led by tournament MVP and last year’s leading scorer Dedrick Pakootas with 22, while JR Delgado was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Spokane is returning two of the leading scorers from last year’s team, Pakootas and Delgado. Spokane also led the league in scoring with 92 points last year. Also returning is Asher Cox, who redshirted last season.
“Asher has really made the most of his redshirt year,” said CCS head coach Jeremy Groth. “He has gotten a whole lot better in all areas of his game.”
Coming into a new season brings new challenges.
“This team is a very close group of guys who give it all they have for each other,” Groth said.
With the new season, comes incoming freshmen. Groth highlighted four freshmen who “have really contributed as freshmen” through the first three games this season.
Two freshmen, Garrett White and Tanner McClimet-Call both ended night one of the Red Devil Classic in double figures with 11 and 13.
More recently, the men competed in the Bigfoot Classic.After scoring 100 points to open the Bigfoot Classic, the Sasquatch dropped a 64-59 contest to the penguins of Clark on Saturday at SCC. Sunday, the final day of the Bigfoot Classic, saw Spokane defeat the Gonzaga Club 76-70. With the win, Spokane now sits at 5-1 on the season.
The MVP of the Bigfoot Classic was Clark’s Tyler Fernstrom, while Spokane’s Garrett White earned All-Tournament team.
Spokane has two preseason tournaments left: the Dale J. Bates Invitational in Eugene, Oregon, and the NWAC Crossover in Roseburg, Oregon.
Spokane has one more game in Everett before conference play begins in January at SFCC versus the Warriors of Walla Walla.
Upcoming men’s basketball games
12/7-12/9: Dale J. Bates Invitational (Eugene, OR.)
12/14-12/16: NWAC Crossover (Umpqua CC)
1/2: 7:30 p.m. at SFCC vs. Walla Walla
1/5: 4 p.m. at SFCC vs. Big Bend