Runnin' Vikes slip in NWAACC opener
Big Bend's Jeff Coffman fights for a rebound in the second half of Thursday's first round loss to Peninsula at Three Rivers Coliseum.<br>Brad Redford/ Columbia Basin Herald
KENNEWICK — Mark Poth thought Big Bend was too much of a one-man show.
The NWAACC's leading scorer, Brandon Nielsen, put up 31 points on Thursday, while teammate Jeff Coffman added 22 of his own in a 75-71 loss to Peninsula during the first round of the NWAACC tournament at Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick.
The Runnin' Vikings' head coach said more has to be expected if Big Bend wants to stay at the tournament.
"It was almost to the point that we looked like a one-man show out there and we can't have that, we need to be more balanced," Poth said.
After the two leading scorers, Big Bend's Chris Pendleton finished with nine points, Bryce Pendleton had six and Antonio Walker had three. On the other end, the Pirates had three players in double figures with Willie Blackburn scoring 24, including 6-for-11 from behind the arc.
Scott Helpenstell added 23 and Brandon Lord scored 12 for the win.
"You just tip your hat off to them," Poth added.
Big Bend manage to cut a 15-point Peninsula lead down to two in the closing seconds, but 7-8 shooting from the free-throw line saved the win for the Pirates down the stretch.
The Runnin' Vikings jumped to a 12-7 early in the first half off of two straight baskets from Coffman and a Nielsen NBA 3-pointer with 14:35 left in the half.
Following a basket from Helpenstell, Neilsen hit another 3-pointer for Big Bend's largest lead of the game, then momentum switched sides and Peninsula responded with three straight 3-pointers, including two from Blackburn from NBA range.
Bryce Pendleton kept Big Bend close with 3:48 left with a 3-pointer, but the Pirates ended the half on a 4-0 run to build a 37-32 lead at the break.
Nielsen opened the second half with one of his seven 3-pointers, but it was Peninsula who got hot with 15-6 run to build a 52-41 lead on the Runnin' Vikings.
Nielsen hit four more 3-pointers over a 5 1/2 minute stretch to bring Big Bend within 63-58 with 3:27 left in the game and both Pendleton's hit consecutive 3-pointers to close the gap to 70-66. After two Helpenstell free throws, Chris Pendleton hit another 3-pointer, but free throws secured the win for Peninsula.
"We rushed it a little bit and I felt like we played like a young team tonight," Poth said. "We didn't take care of the ball and didn't shoot well. The pressure got to us."