Runnin' Vikes outran

Big Bend 77, Mt. Hood 79

KENNEWICK — With under a minute to play Big Bend was down 2.

The Vikings' Mark Moss picked the pocket of a Mt. Hood guard and finished the steal with a layup to tie the game with 25 seconds remaining.

With time running out, Derek Mill forced a Saints turnover and recovered the ball for Big Bend in the scramble. As Miller skidded to a stop, he called for a timeout with two seconds left. Mt. Hood followed up the Vikings' timeout with one of their own but all the discussion of last second strategy was not enough. Moss ended regulation with a baubled shot, sending the game into overtime.

"We didn't shoot well," said Big Bend head coach Mark Poth. "We didn't get big buckets when we needed them."

Mt. Hood won the overtime tip off and took a 2-point lead.

Blake Solomon answered for Big Bend, hitting a 3-ball to give the Vikings a 70-69 lead.

The Saints responded with a layup but could not enjoy their lead for long. Miller hit another 3-point shot for the Vikings, to regain the lead.

"We went 3-for-19 from 3-point land in the second half," said Poth. "That hurt us. Shooting is our strength."

Big Bend then allowed a small 4-point scoring burst that put Mt. Hood up by three with 45 seconds left in the game.

Miller pulled his team within reach, drawing a foul and earning two points from the stripe but saw the Saints regain those two points after a foul by Moss on an attempted steal.

With 18 seconds left, Big Bend called back-to-back timeouts and then lost the ball on an inbounds play. Cody Mortensen was able to regain possession for the Vikings, hitting the floor in the key to scoop up the ball. He found Moss on a kick-out pass from his knees and Moss made the easy bucket to make it 78-77.

Mortensen continued to hustle for the Vikings, fouling a Mt. Hood player with nine seconds left to put him on the line. The Saints' player went 1-for-2, leaving Big Bend a chance to hit the final shot of the game.

Big Bend was not able to sink another bucket and with the loss fell into the losers bracket of the NWAACC Tournament.

Miller led the effort with 20 points and 9 boards. Moss had 13 points. Matt Brunell and Solomon earned 12 points each. Mortensen finished the game with 10 points. Curtiss Moseley grabbed 8 rebounds.

If Big Bend defeats Skagit Valley today they will play at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. If Big Bend loses today their tournament run is over.