Big Bend in better shape after wins over Wenatchee

MOSES LAKE - Saturday's contests were important for the Big Bend men's and women's basketball teams - but for different reasons.

The women were trying to avoid a disastrous 0-3 start to NWAACC East Division play after a strong non-conference season. The men were trying to improve to 2-1 inside the division and stay just a game back of front runners Spokane and Treasure Valley.

Both teams got the wins they desperately needed, with the Lady Vikings holding off a feisty Wenatchee Valley squad 91-87, and the Runnin' Vikes blitzing the Knights 99-69 behind four double-figure scorers.

The seventh-ranked Lady Vikings jumped out to an early 21-9 lead, though the Knights rallied and got within two points at halftime, 41-39. The second half was an offensive affair, with Big Bend holding a 50-48 edge to hang on.

Big Bend's tenacious rebounding was a key to the win, as the Lady Vikings grabbed 19 offensive boards and converted them into 15 second-chance points. They also outscored Wenatchee Valley by 20 at the free-throw line, making 37 of 49 attempts (76 percent).

Freshman point guard Misty Ostlie and freshman shooting guard Dana Bates tied for the team high with 17 points apiece. Ostlie was a perfect 13 of 13 at the free-throw line, adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bates hit 4 of 8 from the field and 9 of 11 from the line, grabbed nine boards and had three steals.

Kim Bluff added 15 points, hitting 2 of 4 from 3-point range, while mixing in six assists and five steals. Kaitie Poston chipped in 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field and also had nine rebounds.

Brittany Ingham and Kami Clark led the Knights with 16 points apiece. Lauren Daling and Megumi Shimabukuro each had 11 points, and Allie Jordan tossed in 10.

Big Bend made eight fewer field goals than Wenatchee Valley and shot just 39 percent from the field, but also forced 26 turnovers.

In the nightcap at DeVries Activity Center, the Runnin' Vikes had no trouble getting their second straight divisional victory. The seventh-ranked Vikings stormed out to a 20-point halftime lead and built on it from there, shooting 55 percent from the field in the process.

Perhaps the biggest difference in the game was points off turnovers. Both teams committed 18 turnovers, but Big Bend turned theirs into 27 points, while Wenatchee Valley managed only 12.

Sophomore forward Brett Vriesman played only 23 minutes before fouling out, but recorded a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Vriesman made 9 of 10 from the field.

Cameron Mero led the Vikings' long-range attack, hitting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 18 points, three assists and three steals. Big Bend finished 14 of 31 from 3-point range (45 percent).

Daley Landon went for 17 points, four assists and three steals. Will Winn scored 10 points, while sophomore point guard James York dished out 14 assists.

The Vikings held Knights star Ryan Votaw relatively in check, limiting him to 15 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Greg Giese had 12 points and Tyler Blakney scored 11 for Wenatchee Valley.

Big Bend returns to the road for its next two division games, traveling to Blue Mountain on Friday and to Treasure Valley on Saturday.

The men (13-3 overall, 2-1 East) are a game back of first-place Treasure Valley, while Blue Mountain is tied for last at 0-3. The women (11-5, 1-2) stand a game back of Yakima Valley and Walla Walla for the East's final playoff spot, and both of this weekend's opponents have sub-.500 records.

Friday's doubleheader begins at 6 p.m. and Saturday's starts at 5 p.m.