Big Bend women hold off NIC rally

MOSES LAKE — Miranda Johnson made a go-ahead lay-up with 18 seconds left to give Big Bend a win against North Idaho 79-78.

Kelsey Foster sealed the outcome, stealing the ball from Cierra Dvorak.

Big Bend (2-3, 13-5) avoided a major letdown after leading by 17 points in the fourth quarter. Johnson’s lay-up pushed the Vikings’ lead to 70-53 before the Cardinals began to chip away.

The Cardinals got within seven points, 77-70, with just over two minutes to play. From that point, NIC put together an 8-0 run to briefly take the lead 78-77. Dvorak made a go-ahead lay-up with 41 seconds left.

On the go-ahead possession, Leah Dougherty went up for a shot, missed and grabbed an offensive rebound to maintain possession for Big Bend. Johnson’s game-winning bucket punctuated a team-high 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Sunnie Martinez, Johnson’s back-court mate, added 19 points and five assists. Hailey Garrity pulled down 15 rebounds to go with eight points.

Men’s basketball

North Idaho 94, Big Bend 76

MOSES LAKE — North Idaho lived at the free throw line to beat Big Bend 94-76.

The Cardinals hit 36-of-41 free throws for slightly under 88 percent. Conversely, Big Bend only attempted 10 free throws.

Big Bend hung with North Idaho 10 minutes into the first half and led by as much as seven points.

North Idaho tied the game after two free throws from Rayquan Evans 17-17. The Cardinals scored the next 12 points to build a 29-17 lead.

DeAngelo Stowers scored 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting, but Big Bend’s next leading scorer was Blake Dittman with 11.

Evans led NIC with a triple-double of 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Iain McLaughlin added 21 points off the bench.

— Staff report