Vikings host Yaks in home opener

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Vikings basketball teams will begin their Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) home schedules tonight when the men’s and women’s programs host the Yakima Valley Yaks.

The Lady Vikings will begin tonight’s action when they take on league co-leader Yakima Valley at 6 p.m. at the DeVries Activity Center. The men’s game will follow the women’s game at 8 p.m.

The Big Bend Lady Vikings are coming off a 66-58 victory over the Community Colleges of Spokane to begin NWAACC East Division play with a win and improve to 11-3 overall. Angela Fales led the Lady Vikings in scoring Saturday night when she scored 18 points and fell just two rebounds short of a double-double.

Megan Howerton added 16 points for Big Bend and Sarah Smith scored 13 points as three Lady Vikings scored in double figures.

The Lady Vikings dominated the first half to take a commanding 44-24 lead over their league rival but slowed in the second half for a 66-58 victory.

While the Lady Vikings got off to a fast start to begin league play, the men’s team fell on the road 75-70 to the Community Colleges of Spokane. Kolby Secrist led the Vikings Saturday night when he scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to record the only double-double for Big Bend.

Michael Hattar scored 17 points and Josh Schouman added 10 points for the Vikings. Big Bend battled on the boards, scoring 21 second-chance points but it would not be enough to defeat the Sasquatch in Spokane.

The Vikings fell to 7-6 overall and 0-1 in league play with the loss.