Big Bend lands two on second team

MOSES LAKE — With their Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) basketball season concluded, the Big Bend men’s and women’s basketball teams each had second-team selections to the NWAACC East Division All-Star teams.

Big Bend freshmen Jeff Ranstrom and Megan Howerton were each selected to represent the Vikings last week on their respective All-Star teams.

Ranstrom helped lead the Vikings to a 5-9 East Division record and 13-14 overall this season.

Ranstrom said he was proud to hear of his second-team selection.

“I was excited,” he said after hearing he was chosen. “It’s a big honor to be a freshman and selected to the it.”

While Ranstrom is proud of the selection, he wishes his team could have performed better this season.

“It’s good to know I did enough individually (to get recognized),” he said. “But it leaves a sour taste in my mouth knowing my team didn’t finish above .500 and make the tournament.

Although Ranstrom was the NWAACC’s seventh leading scorer this season, he said he is working to improve for next season.

“Second team is second team,” he said. “It’s motivation to get first team next year.”

While Ransrom was the only selection to the men’s second team, Howerton was the only Big Bend selection to the women’s second team.

Howerton helped lead the Lady Vikings to a 4-10 East Division record and 14-13 overall while leading the team in total minutes played. She also led Big Bend in scoring this season with just over 13 points per game.

After hearing of her All-Star selection, Howerton said she was surprised.

“I was pretty shocked,” she said. “I didn’t think anything like (this) could happen to a girl coming from Touchet, (Wash.).”

While Howerton was pleased to hear of her second-team selection, she is aiming for a first-team selection next season.

“Second (team) isn’t first (team),” she said. “It shows me I have to work that much harder next year.”