There won't be a repeat champion at this year's NWAC men's basketball tournament after Yakima Valley finished just below the playoff cut. But despite some ups and downs this season, the Yaks finished on a positive note Wednesday night with an 87-72 win over Blue Mountain at Sherar Gymnasium, finishing the season at 8-8 in the NWAC East and 11-14 overall.

Led by 14 points from Conner Turner, four players scored in double figures as the 2022 NWAC champions took a 36-28 halftime lead and then turned on the jets down the stretch. Turner also had five rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots, while Jamon Kemp contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. Bright Kari was equally effective with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Javonte Darrett pitched in 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. Winston Cole scored nine points and Mason Tinley had seven as YVC shot 48.5% (33-of-68) from the floor.

While the Yaks were happy to finish the season with a win, they knew going in that they wouldn't be playing in this month's NWAC Tournament after falling to first place North Idaho, 76-66, last Saturday. Yakima Valley trailed by only three at halftime and shot a solid 49.1% (27-of-55), but the balanced Cardinals proved to be too much on both ends of the floor.

Kemp poured in a game-high 23 points and Darrett added 15, giving the Yaks a fighting chance against the unbeaten Cardinals. Turner contributed nine points and eight rebounds, while David Tinner chipped in with seven points off the bench. Tinley, Kari and Dtaye Joe each scored four points, and Tinley added four assists in the loss.

North Idaho (16-0, 28-0) enters the NWAC Tournament as the favorite, with Walla Walla (13-3), Columbia Basin (10-6) and Spokane (10-6) rounding out the East's representatives. The tournament tips off March 8-10 in Pasco, followed by the rounds of 16 and eight on March 10-12. The championship game will be March 19.