By Sophia Grabiec
Sports Editor
The Washington College men’s basketball team hosted Centennial Conference first-round game on Tuesday, Feb. 19 against the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats.
Fans were on the edge of their seats at this competitive matchup, the fourth-seed Shoremen and the fifth-seed Diplomats managing to make the game close to a tie-score for almost all four quarters.
Outscoring F&M 63-60, the Shoremen pulled out the win that took them to the semifinal game versus host and first-seed Swarthmore College.
With a season-low of six turn- overs, WC had a wide range of contributors in the first-round game.
Juniors Austin Allen, Dallas Marshall, Josh Porteous, and Alec Lewis, and freshman Tray Wright added eight points each to the board.
Sophomore Logan Bunch contributed a career-high of 11 points, making him the top scorer of the game for the Shoremen.
Marshall secured nine rebounds and four blocks, as well while sophomore Daniel Brown made four assists.
On Friday, Feb. 22, the Shore- men traveled to No. 1 seed Swarthmore, losing 77-59 to end their season.
The Garnet established a 20-7 lead early in the game, and maintained it through the final buzzer.
Swarthmore outscored WC in the first half 35-21 and again in the second half 42-38.
The Shoremen showed their depth in the 23 points scored from the bench versus Swarthmore’s 13.
Even though WC matched Swarthmore in rebounds with 36, Swarthmore managed less turnovers and translated foul shots.
Marshall scored the game-high for the Shoremen with 13, followed by Wright with nine.
“The game against Swarthmore was more of a lesson or a stepping stone for us,” Lewis said. “They were a very good team and if we want a chance again at them next year, then we need to prepare and work harder than ever before.”
The Shoremen have officially completed the best season they have had since the 2011-201seasonon by making it to the semifinal game. This serves as the final game for the Shoremen until the 2019- 2020 season.
“This offseason is going to be huge for a team,” Lewis said. “It will determine if we just stay the same and just make the conference playoffs, or if we go further.”