Runnin' Vikes ready to kick off Holiday Classic

MOSES LAKE - For the first time in almost three weeks the Big Bend Community College Runnin' Vikes will be playing on their home floor.

The team is gearing up for the Big Bend Holiday Classic which gets underway Friday featuring Big Bend, Capilano, Portland, Camosun, Columbia Basin, Douglas, Wenatchee and Peninsula.

Currently, the Runnin' Vikes hold down first place in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) East region with a 9-2 record. Big Bend should be the favorite to win the tournament as it is being played at the DeVries Activity Center and the team is ranked tied for fourth in the NWAACC according to the most recent coaches poll.

Big Bend's offense has been the story this year as the team is averaging the second most points per game in the NWAACC, tied for the league lead in field goal percentage, scored the fourth most total points, and have scored the most points in a single game after pouring in 160 points against Shoreline.

Against Shoreline, sophomore sensation Brendan Westendorf broke the school record for points in a single - a record he set earlier in the year - with 55 points on 20/22 shooting.

Westendorf has been a force for the Runnin' Vikes, leading in the NWAACC with 31.55 points per game. What is most surprising is even as a guard Westendorf is still ninth in rebounding pulling down exactly nine per game.

Big Bend also has solid leadership from the point guard spot due to the play of sophomore Victor Aguero. Aguero has set up his teammates nicely and ranks fourth in assists per game averaging 5.45.

Big Bend's opening round game is against Capilano today at 7 p.m. Depending on the outcome, the Vikes will either play Saturday at 7 p.m. or 3 p.m.