Big Bend women hope to build on Final Four appearance

MOSES LAKE — The NWAC Tournament trophy for third place sat prominently on the desk of head coach Preston Wilks.

It’s not the big trophy, but it’s a start.

A start that Big Bend women’s basketball hopes to continue following a Final Four appearance in March.

“I think it starts with our sophomores and showing the freshmen what we did last year and how we were so successful, and working hard and working as a team,” sophomore guard Miranda Johnson said. “We have a lot of really talented girls this year and I’m excited to see what the freshmen bring to the table and I think we’ll have a really deep bench this year.

“I think we can go just as far, if not further, this year.”

Belief is a powerful thing.

There was a point during last season when Big Bend sat in eighth place in the NWAC East. Undaunted, the Vikings closed strong to finish fourth at 9-7 in the region and upset No. 1 seed Grays Harbor in the first round of the tournament to begin their postseason run.

Sophomores Sunnie Martinez, Hailey Garrity, Callie Gronning, Kelsey Foster and Emily Allan have departed, however, the roster is far from thin.

Kayla Luke, of Sugar City, Idaho, is slated to take over point guard duties. Luke won a Class 3A Idaho state championship for Sugar-Salem High School.

“She’s a real explosive, dynamic point guard,” Wilks said. “Plays with a lot of emotion, very quick and explosive.”

Hannah Wilson, a 5-foot-10 forward from Rexburg, Idaho, will step into a starting frontcourt role. Wilson was player of the year in the 5A/4A High County Conference and was a high school teammate of Big Bend sophomore Leah Dougherty.

“I’m really excited for Hannah,” Johnson said. “She is really quick as a post and super strong inside. So, I’m really excited to see Hannah as a freshman play.”

More, Big Bend has some local flair this season in Moses Lake Christian graduate Anna Yarbro and Wahluke graduate Jacky Hidalgo.

Dougherty and Johnson are the two returning starters. Both came off the bench to start last season before working their way into the starting five.

“I’m a lot more confident this year because I at least know a little bit of what to expect,” Dougherty said. “Because coming in freshman year you have no idea what it’s going to be like playing college ball. So, I’m definitely a lot more confident. I know I have a lot more experience and I can show that on the court.”

It will surely be another grind for a return trip to the postseason. Wilks opined that their could be as many as seven teams competing for the four playoff berths from the region.

The NWAC East consistently produces contenders in women’s basketball. In fact, six out of the last 10 NWAC champions have resided in the East. Walla Walla was last year’s champion, Spokane the year before.

Only time will tell if Big Bend can insert itself into the East’s elite.

“I’m super excited,” Johnson said. “I’m so excited for this year.”

Next: vs. Olympic, Nov. 17, 3 p.m.