Big Bend sweeps through weekend tournament
MOSES LAKE - It was an interesting weekend, to say the least, for the Big Bend basketball teams at the Basic American Foods Classic.
The Lady Vikings opened the tournament on Friday night with perhaps their biggest margin of victory ever - a 112-14 demolition of Northwest Indian College in which all nine Vikings scored and five finished in double figures.
Both the men and women wound up a perfect 2-0 at the event. The Lady Vikings knocked off Mount Hood on Saturday, while the men scored at will in their victories over a Big Bend alumni squad and Another Level.
In Friday's 98-point win, Big Bend's women got a 21-point, 12-rebound effort out of freshman forward Kaitie Poston. Kim Bluff added 18 points and five assists, Teianna Mabe had 16 points and eight boards, Heather Burke had 13 points and four steals, and Misty Ostlie had 10 points and eight steals.
Big Bend led 61-9 at halftime, forced 42 turnovers and limited Northwest Indian College to 15 percent shooting (5 of 33). The Lady Vikings were 49 of 89 from the field (55 percent).
The Lady Vikings got a tougher test on Saturday from the Mt. Hood Saints, but emerged with a 69-56 triumph.
It was a general struggle for both teams' offenses, as the Vikings shot 36 percent and the Saints just 29 percent. But Big Bend overcame its troubles with another balanced effort.
Bluff had a team-high 14 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Poston had another double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Dana Bates scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards, while Burke finished with 10 points, three assists and two steals.
Mt. Hood kept things close by forcing 31 turnovers and getting a game-high 20 points from Jacki Cunningham.
The Viking men got a big challenge of their own on Friday from Another Level, taking a 42-40 lead into halftime. But Big Bend had a sharper second half and won 91-77.
Big Bend (5-1) shot just 38 percent for the game, but hit 15 attempts from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Daley Landon scored 33 points on 10 of 24 from beyond the arc. Cameron Mero finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, Will Winn had 14 points, eight boards and five assists, and Hugh Brown chipped in 13 points and eight boards.
Nick Nicholson had 26 points and Will Hutchens added 15 for Another Level.
The Runnin' Vikes beat their alumni squad for the second time this season, winning 106-91 on Saturday.
Landon had another huge game, posting 34 points on 8 of 19 from long range, and dished out five assists. Mero drilled 11 of 23 field-goal tries and finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Brown and Brett Vriesman combined for 24 points and 19 rebounds.
The Viking men host the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges' crossover tournament on Friday and Saturday, while the women travel to Edmonds Community College on Thursday at 6 p.m. Big Bend sweeps through weekend tournament.