Big Bend falls to Bellevue at NWAACC Championships

by Neil Pierson<br> Herald Sports Editor
| February 29, 2008 8:00 PM

KENNEWICK - A furious second-half comeback by the Big Bend men's basketball team on Wednesday wasn't enough to stop a three-game losing streak.

Trailing 45-34 at halftime of their Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges' Championships opener, the Vikings stormed back to force overtime, only to lose 86-84 to the Bellevue Bulldogs.

Big Bend, which drops to 21-7 overall, plays in the consolation bracket today at 10 a.m. at Toyota Center against Grays Harbor, a 68-63 loser to Umpqua in the first round. Big Bend and Grays Harbor met during the regular season, with the Gulls earning an 83-80 win on Dec. 15.

The Vikings lost their final two regular-season games coming into the tournament, and started slowly against Bellevue (21-8). The Bulldogs shot 53 percent in the first half and 54 percent for the game while forcing 23 Vikings turnovers and limiting Big Bend to 42 percent from the floor (26 of 62).

Cameron Mero kept Big Bend in the game by leading all scorers with 26 points. He buried five of his 10 tries from 3-point range, was 7 of 11 on free throws, and added five steals on defense.

Daley Landon contributed 23 points on 4 of 6 from long range, and Will Winn had 10 points before fouling out.

However, the Vikings couldn't contain Bellevue's Michael Duty, who hit 9 of 12 from the floor en route to 24 points. Duty had a pair of quick baskets early in overtime that proved critical. He also had 10 rebounds and three steals.

Bellevue's Josh Monagle scored 19 points and Steve Wiseley had 11 points on three 3-pointers.

Big Bend's defense forced 30 turnovers, including 16 steals, and turned those into 32 points. Both teams finished an identical 20 of 35 from the free-throw line in a foul-plagued game, as 54 total fouls were whistled.

Big Bend 34 44 6 -84

Bellevue 45 33 8 -86 BIG BEND (84): Brown 1-2 2-6 4, Landon 7-11 5-5 23, York 2-9 2-2 8, Winn 4-10 2-3 10, Secrist 2-6 0-1 4, Mero 7-13 7-11 26, Schouman 2-7 2-5 7, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Vriesman 0-2 0-2 0, Hawkins 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-62 20-35 84.

BELLEVUE (86): Wiseley 4-8 0-1 11, Singleton 3-8 0-2 8, Harris 1-2 4-6 6, Campbell 0-0 0-0 0, Cartmell 2-7 2-4 6, Pankow 0-0 0-0 0, Bolick 1-2 2-2 4, Monagle 7-11 5-8 19, Duty 9-12 5-10 24, Sterling 3-6 2-2 8. Totals 30-56 20-35 86.

3-pointers: Big Bend 12-30 (Landon 4-6, York 2-7, Winn 0-4, Mero 5-10, Schouman 1-3), Bellevue 6-11 (Wiseley 3-5, Singleton 2-3, Cartmell 0-1, Duty 1-2). Rebounds: Big Bend 37 (Secrist 8, Schouman 7), Bellevue 41 (Duty 10, Sterling 5). Assists: Big Bend 13 (York 5), Bellevue 16 (Wiseley 4, Singleton 4). Steals: Big Bend 16 (Mero 5), Bellevue 16 (Harris 4). Blocked shots: Big Bend 2 (Secrist 2), Bellevue 3 (Bolick 2). Total fouls: Big Bend 30, Bellevue 24. Technical fouls: None. Turnovers: Big Bend 23, Bellevue 30.