Just five weeks ago, few would have predicted what the Yakima Valley men's basketball team was about to do at the NWAC Tournament.  The Yaks were mired in a midseason slump, just hoping to qualify for the tournament. But they got a roll at the right time, winning eight of nine down the stretch — punctuated by a decisive 70-57 victory over Bellevue on Sunday — to secure the program's first conference championship since 2008 and sixth all time.

Godwin Ilumoka scored a game-high 21 points and added eight rebounds and three assists, helping YVC overcome a two-point halftime deficit and outscore the Bulldogs 38-23 in the second half. First-team all-tournament selection Quentin Raynor scored 16 and grabbed six rebounds, and Alexzander Delgado totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists on his way to being named tournament MVP.

Christian Murphy, a second-team all-tournament selection and the Most Inspirational Player, added 12 points and five rebounds, Bright Kari had six points, eight boards and two blocks off the bench, and starter Conner Turner racked up four points, four assists, four rebounds and three blocks. Ilumoka joined Murphy on the all-tournament second team.  As a team, YVC outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-33, forced 15 turnovers and shot 50.9% (29-of-57), including four 3-pointers. Coach London Wilson's crew won by their largest margin in four tournament games to finish the season 21-9 overall.

Saturday's semifinal against Olympic was a much closer contest for the Yaks, who trailed by six points with 36 seconds remaining before knocking down three clutch 3-pointers — two by reserve Mason Tinley and one by Raynor — to pull out an improbable 77-76 victory.

Delgado played all 40 minutes, scoring a team-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Raynor, who matched his teammate in minutes played, added 15 points, five assists and three rebounds, while Turner put up 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and three blocks, helping YVC overcame a three-point halftime deficit.  Murphy contributed eight points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Kari had 10 points and five boards as the Yaks shot 55.4% (31-of-56) from the floor, including 46.7% (7-of-15) from long range. Tinley and Delgado sank two 3-pointers apiece, and Raynor delivered three.

Other key players involved in YVC's championship run this season were Grey Braun, Trey Funk, Erin Chamble, Conner Kelley, Thomas McMillan, Makhiah Tarver and Mekhi Murphy. Joining Wilson on the coaching staff was former Yaks' head coach and current Atheltic Director Ray Funk.