Vikings split two games
Big Bend freshman guard/forward Riley Jemmett (13) goes up for a shot against a Wenatchee Valley defender Jan. 11.
ONTARIO, Ore. - Rebounding was the key factor in both Big Bend Community College's (BBCC) games over the weekend.
The team split against Blue Mountain and Treasure Valley on its swing through Oregon. Big Bend sits tied for second in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) East region at 3-1 and 13-5 overall.
In the Vikings' 75-77 overtime loss to No. 4 Blue Mountain, the team was outrebounded 36-65 for the game.
Big Bend was in control throughout until Blue Mountain sunk two 3-pointers to force overtime.
"Those were kind of hard pills to swallow," head coach Preston Wilks. "When the game was all over we looked at our stats and we saw that we got outrebounded by 29 rebounds and we kind of realized that we were probably pretty lucky to even be that close."
Sophomore forward Jessica Sorensen scored a team-high 21 points and pulled down six rebounds. Freshmen Elizabeth Larrew and Riley Jemmett added 18 and 12 points, respectively.
Wilks and his players would've preferred to leave Pendleton, Ore. with a win, but the team can take solace in coming close to upsetting the Timberwolves after being dominated on the glass.
"We felt great being able to get basically a shot to win that sucker even being outrebounded 29 rebounds," he said. "We felt really good to be able to get that close and almost have that and steal one on the road."
The Vikings responded in a big way Saturday against the Chukars with a resounding 90-59 win.
Big Bend dominated the glass with Larrew and Sorensen recording double-doubles. Sorensen scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Larrew added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
"The fact that we outrebounded them so well it allowed us to really take a commanding lead and win by a very big margin," Wilks said.
The road doesn't get any easier for the Vikings as the team hosts top ranked Columbia Basin 6 p.m. Wednesday.
"Number one they're a great coached team, number two they have tons of experience and number three they have a lot of talent," Wilks said.
Runnin' Vikes split two on road trip
The Runnin' Vikes were able to blow out Blue Mountain Friday, 86-65, but lost a close game, 82-78, to Treasure Valley the next night.
Sophomore guards Brendan Westendorf and Victor Aguero led the attack against the Timberwolves combining for 51 points. Freshman forward Sean McDonnell added 13 points.
The Runnin' Vikes struggled from the outside against the Chukars shooting only 29.4 percent from deep. McDonnell scored a team-high 19 points while Westendorf added 18.
Big Bend dropped to second in the NWAACC East after its loss to Treasure Valley. The team is now 3-1 in league and 14-4 overall.
BBCC is back at home Wednesday to face Columbia Basin at 8 p.m.