Roadrunners' Season Ends with Loss to Skagit Valley at NWAC Tournament

PASCO, Wash. — Cade Smith led four Linn-Benton players in double figures but it was not enough to overcome a tough Skagit Valley team as the Roadrunners bowed out of the Sweet Sixteen with an 85-71 loss Thursday morning at Columbia Basin College.

Smith had 20 points points and five rebounds while Bennet Bos had 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 4-for-7 from the three point line. TJ Zimmermann had 17 points and a game high 10 rebounds to go with six assists, and Michael Lundy added 10 points.

The Roadrunners (15-14, 9-7) trailed by just three points, 32-29, with give minutes remaining, but Skagit Valley, the #2 seed out of the North, took advantage of a Linn-Benton cold shooting streak and built a 47-32 lead to end the first half.

Skagit Valley advances to today's Elite Eight match up against Lower Columbia (#1 West) at 2:00 p.m.

Linn-Benton ends its season with the first back-to-back NWAC Championship Tournament appearances in more than a decade.

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