Vikings start conference play with gritty win over Wenatchee Valley

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings continued their impressive run, opening East Region conference play with a hard-fought 63-55 victory over Wenatchee Valley College on Jan. 8 at the DeVries Activity Center. Coming off a strong 11-4 preseason, the Vikings showed their resilience in a game featuring dominance and late drama.

The Vikings wasted no time asserting themselves, jumping out to a 14-point lead after the first quarter with crisp ball movement and suffocating defense. While the Knights clawed back in the second quarter, BBCC held firm to take a 33-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Coming out of the break, BBCC regained its rhythm and pushed the lead to 17 points by the end of the third quarter. Riley Layton shined on offense, leading the team with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting while adding five rebounds. Katie Hansen chipped in 10 points, and Oaklie Jackman nearly secured a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

The fourth quarter proved challenging as Wenatchee Valley locked down defensively, limiting BBCC to just 8 points. The Knights managed to cut the lead to single digits, but Big Bend held its composure in the closing moments to seal the 63-55 win.

The Vikings now gear up for their longest road trip of the season, traveling to Ontario, Ore., to take on Treasure Valley Community College on Saturday. With a strong start to conference play, BBCC looks to build momentum as they aim to contend for the East Region title.