'Four good games'

Big Bend goes as underdog to the NWAACC tournament

MOSES LAKE — All they need is four good games.

That seems to be the consensus of every member of the Big Bend mens basketball team. Throw out the fact that they are the No. 3 seed, only one veteran with legitimate NWAACC tournament experience and five starters whose role for the Runnin' Vikings either had a two-year absence or a first-time feel.

All that doesn't matter. What does matter is putting together four good games. Of course head coach Mark Poth has thought about what his team brings to the tournament with all the inexperience and underdog stigma rather than being the favorite.

If anyone knows the uphill battle facing Big Bend, it's Poth.

"Our margin of error just isn't as big as it has in the past," Poth said. "We are going to have to go down there and put together four very good basketball games."

Fortunately for Big Bend, three of the starting five are in the top 15 in the NWAACC in scoring, including leading scorer Brandon Nielsen at 26.7 points per game. That is the only top ranking the Runnin' Vikings bring to the table.

And that will be the target every team will take aim for.

"I know that being the No. 1 scorer, I will have guys on me all the time and we will need guys stepping up and taking more shots," Nielsen said.

Of those that will play a major role in Big Bend's run is starting sophomore guard Chris Pendleton, who is averaging 14.6 points and 4.6 assists per game. Following him up is freshman forward Jeff Coffman and his 13.4 points 8.2 rebounds per game.

But even Poth said they will have to do more.

Coffman has put up double-double numbers the last four games of the season and Poth is relying on those types of numbers to help carry the load Big Bend will haul through the tournament.

It doesn't stop there, from Kelly and Kolby Rawlings filling out the starters, Poth said his bench will play its biggest role of the season at the tournament. Not necessarily for scoring points, but for quality playing time while his starters get rest.

"We are going to have to go 10 deep and I anticipate that first game," Poth added. "We have to get everyone on the same page and contribute. We are going to have to have the entire team for us to be successful."

Bryce Pendleton and Antonio Walker have combined on average nine points per game off the bench for the Vikings and Walker has added four rebounds a game in the forward spot.

The bench for Big Bend gets carries more inexperience in the NWAACC tournament than the starting five, but that could be a good thing for the Poth and his Runnin' Vikings.

"It is not a team that brings a wealth of tournamnet experience into it," Poth said. "But I still think this is the first time we go down there not ranked in the coaches poll and hopefully we can fly under the radar."

Big Bend opens the tournament against Peninsula today at 8 p.m. at Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick. If the Runnin' Vikings get past opening day with a win and the bracket stays true with all No. 1 seeds winning, Big Bend will have to defeat all the No. 1 seeds to take the title. Something, the Runnin' Vikings have never done.

"We are a No. 1 seed team, we just missed it by one point and being the NO. 3 seed, we can surprise some teams," Nielsen said.

"I really believe we are going to succeed," Coffman added. "If we play as a team, we will win four games in four days."