Vikings secure fifth straight victory

MOSES LAKE — Riding a four-game winning streak, the Vikings aimed to make it five as they traveled to Walla Walla on Saturday to face off against the Warriors. BBCC got off to a strong start, holding the Warriors to single-digit points in both of the first two quarters and building a substantial lead, heading into halftime up 31-15.

Hoping to finish the job, BBCC came out sluggish in the second half, allowing Walla Walla to chip away at the lead and close the gap to 10 points entering the final quarter. The Vikings continued to struggle offensively, managing only 8 points in the fourth quarter. However, despite Walla Walla's momentum, BBCC managed to hang on and secure their fifth straight victory with a hard-fought 53-48 win.

Oaklie Jackman led the Vikings on both ends of the floor with an impressive double-double, tallying 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals. Riley Layton contributed 10 points while anchoring the defense with two blocks in the paint. Although the Vikings' offense slowed in the second half, they still managed to shoot 42% from the field, while their defense remained stout, holding the Warriors to just 26% shooting.

"My assistants helped me draw up a great defensive game plan last Monday. Then, with the bye week, we were able to work on executing that plan all week in practice. And it worked like a charm, especially in the first half when we held them to just 15 points," head coach Preston Wilks said. "This week, we kept repeating to the ladies the saying: 'Don't be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try.' We want them to go out and play with confidence and play to succeed. We play so much better when our minds are firm and resolved to make something happen. We did something special today; we couldn't be more proud of them."

Up next for the Vikings is another road trip as they travel to Wenatchee Valley to face off against the Knights on Wednesday looking to extend their winning streak to six games.