Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Nathan Fromm

Anchorage’s Nathan Fromm was on the court during a second-half surge that nearly pushed Lewis-Clark State College over the top in the NAIA men’s basketball tournament championship game.

But Shawnee State held strong and hung on for a 74-68 victory for the national title in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fromm came off the bench to play 15 minutes and amass two points, two rebounds and one assist.

“It really didn’t feel like a national title game at the time,” From said a day after the big game. “Now that I’ve had the time to look back, I wish I would have done more. But hindsight is always 20/20.”

His lone bucket came when he drove down the middle of the land and finished with his left hand to pull Lewis-Clark within 56-51.

The play warranted a replay on the ESPN3 telecast.

Fromm, of Service High fame, had a hand in helping Lewis-Clark cut into a 14-point deficit, getting as close as three points.

Lewis-Clark had its 10-game winning streak snapped and finished the season 22-2.

Fromm, a 6-foot-5 junior, averaged 8.5 points in four games at the NAIA tournament and 7.4 points in 19 games overall.

He increased his college scoring total to 838 career points, moving into the top 60 on Alaska’s all-time list among college players.

Leif Karlberg

Colton Spencer

Lewis-Clark also features associate head coach Leif Karlberg of Anchorage and freshman Colton Spencer of Palmer. Spencer did not play in the title game.

Karlberg continues to impact a Lewis-Clark program that improved to 116-41 in his five years on the staff.

“Coach Leif has done so much for me. Words really can’t explain the feeling,” Fromm said. “I’m grateful to have played with this group of seniors and I will use it as motivation for when we take home the title next year.”