Runnin' Vikings utilize the arc
Brad Redford/ Columbia Basin Herald<br>Big Bend's Antonio Walker goes up for a shot with Wenatchee Valley's Rashea Dozier falling into him during the second half on Saturday. Walker scored nine points, all in the second half during one of Big Bend's runs to put the game away at 92-72.
MOSES LAKE — Everything about Big Bend's matchup with Wenatchee Valley was pretty even, expect 3-point shooting.
The Runnin' Vikings lit up the 3-point arc for 39 points, proving the difference in their 92-72 win over the Knights on Saturday. Chris Pendleton (7-14, 5-9 25) and Kelly Rawlings (5-9, 5-7 17) combined for 30 of Big Bend's 39 points from behind the line. Big Bend leading scorer Brandon Nielsen was held to 13 points in the win.
Wenatchee Valley got the best of Big Bend in the league opener 93-79, but with Pendleton out of the starting lineup and Rawlings out of the game completely.
"We were coming back from a bad Christmas tournament and not in a basketball mode," said Mark Poth, head coach for Big Bend. "It was nice to come back and beat them by 20."
Wenatchee opened the game with an 18-15 lead halfway through the first half, but one of Rawlings' five 3-pointers tied the game at 20-20 with 8:12 on the clock. Rawlings gave the Runnin' Vikings the lead with another 3-pointer and Seth Maras secured the lead with another 3, which set Big Bend on a 10-5 run.
Nielsen hit his first 3-pointer of the game with just over 2:13 left in the half after missing his first four, all of which, tasted the net before falling out of the basket.
"Brandon had a tough time shooting the ball tonight," Poth said.
Brandon Jess, who finished with 12 points for the Knights, hit a 3 with less than 18 minutes left in the second half, followed by Pendleton, who had popped off seven points during an 11-3 run. Nielsen, who left the game shortly after the start of the second half due to blood on the back of his jersey, nailed his second basket from behind the arc to give Big Bend its first double-digit lead of the game at 56-45.
Pendleton later made it a 12-point lead with another 3-pointer and Antonio Walker scored all of his nine points during a Big Bend 17-2 run that extended the lead to 73-56 with 7:38 left in the half.
Walker and Jeff Coffman combined for 20 points and 11 rebounds in the game.
Rawlings hit one last 3 with less than seven minutes left in the game, before leaving with three minutes to go with five fouls.
The Runnin' Vikings (5-3) have won five of their last seven games and remain two games back of Spokane for first place in the Eastern Region. Big Bend's position in league depends largely upon help from other Eastern Region teams as Big Bend heads into the downslope of the season, including four of the next five games in league at home.
"We need a little help, but the second half schedule favors us," Poth said. "If Spokane slips up and we can get a streak going, we will do just fine."
On Tuesday, the Runnin' Vikings face a Bi-County alumni team for the Ryan Floch Memorial Basketball game at Odessa High School.
Poth said he plans on being competitive, plans on winning, but in the final stretch of the season won't be at risk for the game.
"We want to keep people healthy and play a lot of kids," Poth added. "We are going to play to win, but hopefully get in a lot of kids who haven't had much time to play."
Big Bend 92, Wenatchee Valley 72
Big Bend (92) - C.Pendleton 25, Nielsen 13, Ko. Rawlings 6, Ke. Rawlings 17, Coffman 11, Walker 9, Beard 1, Mason 2, Maras 5, Johnson 1, Iverson 2. Wenatchee Valley (72) - Humphrey 8, Brandeberry 2, Dozier 3, Douville 24, Jess 12, Tibbetts 6, Stinnett 3, Neff 12, Munson 2.