Nikko Echalas hit not one but two game-winning shots this past weekend against Linfield and Pacific Lutheran. On Friday against the Wildcats, Brenden Patrick brought the ball up with seven seconds left, and the score tied. Patrick began his drive to the basket but was forced to pick up his dribble just past the elbow. He turned and kicked the ball to the opposite wing for a wide-open Echalas, who drained the game-winning three right in front of the Pioneers bench. He finished the game with nine points on 4-8 shooting and added five rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. On Saturday against the Lutes, Echalas raced down the court and passed the ball to Patrick at the top of the key. Patrick drove in for a layup that bounced off the front of the rim. Grant Stewart pulled down the offensive rebound and put up a turnaround jumper that hit the front of the rim. The ball bounced into the hands of a leaping Echalas, whose acrobatic shot while still in the hair bounced around the rim and fell after the buzzer sounded. Echalas finished with 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds. He went 5-5 from the charity stripe. With the wins, the Pioneers ended a four-game losing streak to Linfield and a six-game losing streak to PLU. This marks the first time the Pioneers have swept Linfield and PLU in back-to-back games; the two teams have been travel partners for the most part since the 2015-16 season when L&C defeated the two teams on January 12 and 15.
