Lady Vikings enter NWAACC poll at No. 8

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Big Bend Lady Vikings basketball team made their way to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges’ (NWAACC) rankings Tuesday thanks in part to a 66-58 victory over the Wenatchee Valley Lady Knights Saturday.

The win helped vault the Lady Vikings to their first appearance of the season on the NWAACC top eight rankings. Big Bend debuted at No. 8 behind league rivals Yakima Valley (third overall), Columbia Basin (fifth overall) and Walla Walla (seventh overall).

Big Bend head coach Preston Wilks is modest about his team’s recognition.

“I don’t know if my girls know yet, to be honest,” he said of the rankings. “It is nice to know, from a coaching standpoint, that your girls are being recognized for their hard work.”

The Lady Vikings took advantage of a pair of 33-point halves as Big Bend improved to 2-1 in NWAACC East Division competition and 12-4 overall with the win over Wenatchee Valley.

Sarah Smith and Megan Howerton each had 15 points for the Lady Vikings. All of Howerton’s points came from behind the 3-point line and she finished  5-for-6 from behind the arc. Smith led the Lady Vikings on the glass, leading Big Bend with nine rebounds.

Kaitie Poston added 10 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes to help lift Big Bend to the road victory.

Wilks said he is proud of the way his team played on the road, especially at Wenatchee Valley.

“Wenatchee has always been the toughest road game,” he said. “They have that cracker-box gym … and they view us as a rival. I can’t remember the last time both the men and the women swept games in that gym.”

The Lady Vikings committed 20 turnovers Saturday night, but Big Bend was able to win the rebound battle and Wilks said that is a focus for his team.

“We have been a little inconsistent this year taking care of the ball,” he said. “If we can get back some of those possessions we throw away on rebounds (we are going to be all right).”

Big Bend has out-rebounded every East Division opponent at this point in the season.

The No. 8 Lady Vikings return to the court Friday night when they host visiting Treasure Valley.

Although he has the eighth ranked team, Wilks said his girls cannot take their opponents lightly.

“We cannot take any opponent lightly in the East (Division),” he said. “I told (my team) ‘you better be ready for a dog-fight and a battle.’”

Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the DeVries Activity Center on the Big Bend Campus.