Runnin' Vikes run away from alumni for win

Big Bend wins amidst crashes, collisions

MOSES LAKE — The Runnin' Vikes defeated the geezers 90-78 in the Ryan Floch Memorial Basketball Game Tuesday at Big Bend Community College.

With just under five minutes left in the game the worst collision of the night left alumni Kyle Stromaier with a bleeding cut in his head and Viking Antonio Walker with a bruised chin.

The two collided under the hoop where Stromaier was looking for an up-and-under bucket and Walker was looking for a blocked shot.

Both players left the game but were deemed fine after medical treatment.

Walker was called for a foul on the play.

Alumni Mitch Poth stepped up to the line to shoot the free throws for Stromaier.

Craig Groth, of the alumni team, scored the next field goal to make it 79-70 before Big Bend went on a scoring run to end the game.

A few minutes before the Stromaier-Walker collision, Big Bend's LaRon Stuckey and the alumni's Jeremy Cummings were each charged with a simultaneous foul for getting into a tussle with each other.

Both were benched by their respective teams.

Despite the intensity that ended the game, the beginning of the game reminded the players and fans why all were in attendance.

Ryan Floch's Big Bend Runnin' Vikes basketball jersey was stretched over a lone chair and placed at the front of the Big Bend bench for each present player to touch on their way through the hand shakes that begin each game.

A spotlight shone on the jersey in the darkened gym and gave those present the opportunity to focus for a few moments upon the fallen player.

When the lights came up and the game began, it was all business and the Runnin' Vikes came out scoring.

Walker struck first for Big Bend with a layup with mere seconds off the clock.

Big Bend then went on an 8-0 scoring run against the alumni.

Reece Jenkin scored the first bucket for the alumni team after four minutes of play and had another quick score to cut the lead to six.

Jordan Baker hit the second three of the night for the Runnin' Vikes and pushed the lead to 11.

Cummings had the first 3-point bucket for the alumni to make it 18-7.

Big Bend had five unanswered points and continued to dominate the court, with Curtis Weber sinking another three.

After falling behind 30-14, the alumni stepped up their offense and pulled within ten on a drive from Jenkin.

The alumni efforts throughout the rest of the half left them down 43-32 at halftime.

Both teams opened the second half with 3-point shots.

David Martin hit the first one of the half for the alumni and Derek Miller hit eight consecutive points for Big Bend, including two 3-point shots.

The Runnin' Vikes' scoring surge was ended with a 3-point shot from Blake Solomon that put them up 54-37 on the alumni.

The alumni continued to battle but could not recover from the early deficit.

Josh Whitman led the alumni with 20 points. Jenkin had 14 and Stromaier had 12.

Miller led the Runnin' Vikes with 22. Solomon had 19 and Curtiss Moseley had 12.