Brewer's 32 Points Leads Centralia to Tournament's First Upset, 74-72 over Umpqua
PASCO, Wash. — Centralia (19-11, 7-7) enjoyed the first upset of the tournament as they edged out Umpqua (25-5, 13-3) by a final score of 74-72 in Game 6 of the 2026 NWAC Men's Basketball Championship, presented by ICCU, on Thursday at Columbia Basin College.
Making their first appearance in the tournament since 2019, the Blazers continued their hot streak as the No. 4 seed, upsetting South Region Champions Umpqua. The win is the first in the tournament for Centralia since 2019 and marks the third-year in a row that the West No. 4 seed has won its opening round game.
Luke Brewer was the story offensively for the Trailblazers as he dropped a tournament-high 32 points on 13-for-26 shooting, to go with eight rebounds. Centralia was tough defensively with 10 steals and five blocks.
Centralia and Umpqua engaged in a back-and-forth first half, ending with the Blazers holding a narrow 36-35 lead. The Riverhawks' early advantage, highlighted by Jackson Taylor's 3-pointer at the 16:20 mark, was countered by Centralia's steady scoring, including a key layup from Andrew Collins at 14:51. Brewer provided pivotal contributions for the Blazers, sinking a jumper at 6:46 to tie the game at 21 and later hitting a 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining to give Centralia a three-point edge. UCC kept the game close with Brayden Whitehead's layup in the final second, leaving the scoreline tight heading into the second half.
The second half saw Brewer lead a pivotal offensive push for Centralia, scoring consistently, including a key 3-pointer at the 9:18 mark to widen their lead. Jack Anderton kept UCC in contention with crucial baskets, including a late layup with 15 seconds remaining. Ahren Bee-Richards sealed the game with a jumper in the final moments, as Centralia's defense held firm on the Riverhawks' last second three-point attempt to win the game.
Centralia's standout performers included Brewer, who led the team with 32 points. Shay Brannon was a defensive force, collecting 10 rebounds and securing two steals. Maximus Holliman had 10 points while leading defensively with two blocks and three steals. Javonte Walls facilitated ball movement by dishing out four assists, complementing his three points. Bee-Richards added 12 points, hitting two 3-pointers.
The UCC basketball team featured several standout performers in their recent game. Anderton led the scoring effort with 18 points, connecting on 7 of 13 field goals, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Caden Hunter contributed a solid 13 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field while also pulling down 5 rebounds. Mikey Lloyd provided a well-rounded performance with 15 points and 6 rebounds, showcasing defensive prowess with 2 blocks. Whitehead was a defensive anchor, recording 3 blocks while adding 8 points on 4-for-5 shooting. Jackson McKee dominated the boards, collecting a team-high 9 rebounds and adding 10 points to the team's tally. These players' contributions were integral to the team's performance.
The Blazers move onto the Elite and will next face Skagit Valley on Friday at 2 p.m. Umpqua completes a great season with a 25-5 overall record, taking first place in the South Region.