Big Bend surges toward top of NWAACC
MOSES LAKE — It’s starting to come together for the Big Bend men’s basketball team.
The Vikings suffered through some bumpy roller coaster rides disguised as basketball games earlier in the season and still managed to start the campaign at 5-3.
But after their 80-69 home win on Saturday against Wenatchee Valley Community College, Big Bend’s wins are looking more like Plato and less like Play-doh.
Big Bend is now 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) East Division, good enough for a tie for the first place after two weeks of action.
After last week’s win over the Community College of Spokane and Wednesday’s nail biting 102-99 victory at Yakima Valley Community College — two of the NWAACC East’s better clubs — the Vikings managed to stay the course against struggling Wenatchee (4-9, 0-3)
Despite being outshot 50 to 38 percent by their visitors in the first half, Big Bend managed to force the action by turning Wenatchee over and attacking the rim with more intent, giving the Vikings 11 more free throws.
Big Bend would lead 46-37 at halftime.
“We came out and we didn’t shoot well as a team, “Vikings’ coach Mark Poth said. “Wenatchee was up 12 early in the half but then we got some defensive stops and played better as a team. In the second half we had another run and we were able to put the game away when they cut the game to three.”
Big Bend’s defense forced Wenatchee into 11-for-31 shooting in the second half and overall the Vikings devastated their three-point attacking to the tune of a 4-for-17 clip over the 40 minutes.
Big Bend scored 10 more points at the foul line during the game and committed nine less turnovers — 13 to 22 — to pull away for the win.
The Vikings were led by Jeff Ranstrom’s 24 points and 16 rebounds.
“Jeff’s always making an effort for an offensive rebounding, taking a charge, or diving on the floor for loose balls,” Poth said. “He shows that hard work can definitely lead to productivity.”
Ranstrom was aided by Alan Marsh’s 14 points, and Michael Hattar’s 11 points.