Men’s Orca Basketball Preparing for 2023-24 Season

Brand New Roster Hopes to Build New Identity this Season

Bellingham –

The 2023-24 practices have started to prepare for the Men’s basketball season.  The team will open their season on Nov. 17^th at the Treasure Valley Tournament against Southwest Oregon Community College in Ontario, Oregon at 5:30 p.m.  Whatcom wraps up the initial tournament with games against Centralia (Saturday – 3:30 p.m.) and the host Treasure Valley (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.).

The trip to Ontario, according to coach Alex Sommerfield, “will be a good chance for the guys to bond. Lots of time will be spent together in the van and the hotel. Those trips are a big help to team chemistry.”

Whatcom will stick close to home the following weekend for three games in Skagit Valley College’s Thanksgiving tournament. Coach Sommerfield will return to coach against his alma mater, Green River College, the first weekend of December with a pair of games down in Auburn, WA. After that, the Orcas will make the drive for another weekend trip to a regional foe’s gym for three games in Lynnwood, WA at Edmonds College. Whatcom rounds out their non-region play with three home games in the WCC Pavilion. During their non-region play, Men’s basketball will face 14 NWAC opponents.

Winter 2024 brings region play where the program will compete in home and home games against their seven region opponents. The North Region of the NWAC has been notoriously tough to play in the last half-decade. The league season starts Wed., January 10 at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, WA.

 The brand new roster will have an opportunity to build a new identity for the Whatcom Community College Men’s Basketball program. The large number of games on the road will be a tough battle for the Orcas and will prepare them well for regional play when the calendar turns to the new year. The Student-Athletes, their coaches, and administrators fully believe in the Men’s Basketball program both on and off the court. The expectation will always be to win basketball games as well as represent Whatcom Community College in the best possible manner both at home, and on the road.   

Whatcom Orcas hope to return to the NWAC Championships at the end of the season.  The tournament is held at Columbia Basin College (CBC) in Pasco, WA.   The top 16 teams tournament is set to be held March 6-8th in the newly built gym at CBC.  The final four is set for March 16-17th.  

 The team plans a scrimmage prior to the season on Monday, Nov. 13 vs. Northwest Indian College at 7:00 p.m. at the Pavilion (Student Recreation Center).  This will be the last time that the Orcas will be at home again before the WCC Crossover on Dec. 15-17. 

Matches are $7.00 for adults.  $5.00 for seniors/military with ID/students from other schools with an ID.   FREE For children under 12.  FREE for Whatcom Students, Staff, and Faculty with presentation of a valid ID. 

ABOUT WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Intercollegiate athletics provides a variety of learning experiences for students and helps build pride and a sense of community for the College. WCC supports seven intercollegiate varsity sport teams: men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, and men's and women's cross country.

ABOUT NWAC CONFERENCE

The Northwest Athletic Conference is the parent organization for thirty-six (36) community colleges located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The NWAC has a variety of administrative responsibilities including conference tournament management, eligibility, publications, rule enforcement and sports information.

The growth of the community colleges over the past few decades has been impressive. The colleges in the Northwest are comprehensive in nature and provide a variety of academic and vocational offerings as well as many enrichment activities for their students. As our student-athletes have transitioned into a work environment, many have provided testimony about the significant benefit and value that participation in community college athletics provided for them. Enrollment in community colleges continues to grow as does interest, participation, and membership within the NWAC. 

Mon          Nov. 13            Northwest Indian College (Scrimmage)                  Bellingham, WA                

Fri            Nov. 17            SWOCC (Treasure Valley Tourney)                             Ontario, OR                                   

Sat            Nov. 18            Centralia (Treasure Valley Tourney)                         Ontario, OR                                   

Sun           Nov. 19            Treasure Valley (Treasure Valley Tourney)               Ontario, OR                                   

Fri            Nov. 24              Clark (SVC Tourney)                                                    Mt. Vernon, WA                       

Sat             Nov. 25             Big Bend (SVC Tourney)                                           Mt. Vernon, WA                        

Sun           Nov. 26              Grays Harbor (SVC Tourney)                                    Mt. Vernon                               

Fri             Dec. 1                Wenatchee Valley (Green River Tourney)                 Auburn, WA                                    

Sat            Dec. 2                Green River (Green River Tourney)                           Auburn, WA                                    

Fri            Dec. 8                 Pierce  (Edmonds Tournament)                                Edmonds, WA                           

Sat            Dec. 9                 Blue Mountain (Edmonds Tournament)                 Edmonds, WA                           

Sun           Dec. 10              South Puget Sound (Edmonds Tournament)         Edmonds, WA                           

Fri.           Dec. 15             Southwestern Oregon (WCC Crossover)                Bellingham, WA                  

Sat.           Dec. 16             Big Bend CC (WCC Crossover)                                Bellingham, WA                   

Sun.          Dec. 17             Grays Harbor College (WCC Crossover)               Bellingham, WA                             

North League Games

 Wed     January 10        Peninsula College                           Port Angeles, WA                                                      

Sat       January 13       Shoreline College                             Bellingham, WA                                                      

Wed     January 17        Olympic College                               Bremerton, WA                                                        

Sat       January 20        Bellevue College                               Bellevue, WA                                                           

Wed    January 24       Edmonds College                             Bellingham, WA                                                      

Sat      January 27       Skagit Valley College                       Bellingham, WA                                                      

Wed    January 31         Everett CC                                        Everett, WA                                                              

Wed    February 7       Peninsula College                             Bellingham, WA                                                      

Sat       February 10      Shoreline College                             Shoreline, WA                                                          

Wed    February 14     Olympic College                                Bellingham, WA                                                      

Sat       February 17    Bellevue College                               Bellingham, WA                                                      

Wed     February 21      Edmonds College                             Edmonds, WA                                                          

Sat       February 24      Skagit Valley College                       Mt. Vernon, WA                                                       

Wed    February 28     Everett CC                                          Bellingham, WA