BBCC fourth at Toyota Center

KENNEWICK - Big Bend Community College (BBCC) men's basketball capped off a successful season with a fourth place finish at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Basketball Championships at the Toyota Center in Kennewick March 5.

The four-day tournament saw BBCC beat Lane Community College in round one March 2, Whatcom Community College in round two March 3, and then drop games to eventual champion Chemeketa Community College March 4, and Community Colleges of Spokane March 5.

The Runnin' Vikes claimed the East Region regular season title with a 13-1 record, and ended the year 26-6 overall.

"We had a great season," coach Mark Poth said. "I am really proud of what they guys were able to accomplish this year winning the Eastern Region and placing fourth at the NWAACC Championship Tournament."

BBCC 65

LANE 57

The first game of the tournament saw a back and forth battle between Big Bend and the Lane/Eugene Titans as the lead changed hands five times in the first half of action.

The Runnin' Vikes trailed 28-25 at the end of the first 20 minutes of play, but bounced back in a big way in the second half of action to take a 55-41 lead. Lane closed the gap to 11 points, only to see BBCC go back up by 18 with a little more than 3 minutes left in the game. The Titans were able to get within 8 points, but were unable to pull out a come-from-behind win.

Brendan Westendorf led the charge for the Runnin' Vikes with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Kevin Walker and Kyle Nield added 9 points each, Ryan Page and Kamen McCullough had 8 apiece, Trevor Johnson scored 6 points, and Brandon Funston finished with 4.

BBCC 71

Whatcom 69

The Orcas gave BBCC all it could handle in round two. Whatcom came back from a 15-point deficit to take a late lead in the second half before the Runnin' Vikes were able to squeak out the 2-point win in the waning minutes of the game.

Big Bend dug itself a whole early, but went on a 26-10 run to take a 43-30 lead at the break. Westendorf exploded for 36 points including 12 of the Runnin' Vikes final 16 to lead BBCC to victory.

Nield added 16 and Walker finished with 12. The win over the Orcas advanced the Runnin' Vikes to a quarterfinal round game with Chemeketa.

Chemeketa 66

BBCC 65

Chemeketa pulled of the upset of the tournament as Storm came back from a 21-point second half deficit to knock off the No. 1 seeded Runnin' Vikes.

BBCC got out to a commanding 31-19 halftime lead and looked to be in control of the contest. But the Storm went on a 27-5 run over the last seven minutes of the game to steal a 1-point win.

Westendorf was high scorer once again for the Runnin' Vikes with 21 points. McCullough added 11, Johnson had 10, Page and Walker scored 9 points each, Funston knocked down a trey for 3 points, and Nield finished with 2. Page led both teams with 22 rebounds. The loss put BBCC in match up with Community Colleges of Spokane for third-fourth place.

CCOS 94

BBCC 85

Three Runnin' Vikes scored in double figures in a game that saw a combined 179 points hung on the scoreboard. Westendorf, who had an unbelievable tournament offensively, lead both teams with 34 points.

The game was close throughout as the Sasquatch led by four points at the half, 45-41, and gained the second half advantage 49-45.

Spokane had the upper had from the field, but both teams shot a blistering 40 percent from beyond the arc. McCullough added 17 points for BBCC. Walker had 12, Johnson scored 9 points, Page knocked down 6, Nield, 3, and Funston and Bryce Perez finished with 2 points each.

Brady Bagby was high scorer for the Sasquatch with 32 points.

Westendorf scored 112 points in four games and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Page was the tournament's leading rebounder with 39.