Lady Vikings defend home court, sit atop East region

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (19-2) defeated the Blue Mountain Community College Timberwolves 81-29 on Saturday. Head coach Preston Wilks said his players maintained their standard of play.   

“Sometimes when you play first versus last (place), you're a little nervous about how the team will show up, and what kind of attitude they'll have, and I think our goal going into it was to play to our standard, and I think we did that,” Wilks said.   

The Vikings opened the game with a 15-5 lead in the first quarter before turning up the heat in the second. Behind the hot hands of Oakley Homer and Claire Cox, BBCC outscored the Timberwolves 28-6 to take a commanding lead heading into halftime. In the second half, Big Bend excelled in rebounding and second-chance points as they cruised to their 19th win of the season.   

“We typically are kind of feeling it out in the first quarter, making sure that we're doing things right, and then once we kind of get our feet wet, get a little confidence going, then we really can hit a next level gear and start playing well in those second, third, fourth quarters,” Wilks said.   

The Vikings had a slower start in the first quarter, but as they out-rebounded BMCC 17-6, they built a comfortable 15-5 lead heading into the second. From there, the offense erupted as they moved the ball around to find open shots. Wilks said his players have been excelling at looking for the best shot opportunities of just good ones.   

“We always talk about good, better and best, and the girls really buy into it,” he said.   

Homer drilled three of her five three-pointers and a free throw for 10 points, while Cox sank two three-pointers and another bucket for eight points. Brooke Warren, Oaklie Jackman and Emily Dana rounded out the 28-point effort in the second to give them a 43-11 lead at halftime.   

“We were super excited, because that was our number one goal. We said, ‘Let's go out and show them that we're the best rebounding team in the Northwest Athletic Conference).’ I was super proud of them, and we ended up with a bigger margin than they had total rebounds. That's pretty amazing when you can do that. The girls wanted a challenge. I gave them the challenge, and they rose up and met that challenge,” Wilks said.   

The third quarter was reminiscent of the first, as they outscored the Timberwolves 15-6 to build their lead. In the fourth, the Vikings spread the wealth on offense as most players scored in that period. In addition to their 13 rebounds, they also forced five steals on defense.   

After outscoring BMCC 23-12, Big Bend cruised to an 81-29 win at home as they battled for first place in the Eastern Region of the NWAC. They are tied for first place with Walla Walla Community College. Tied at second, but not far behind in the standings, are Columbia Basin College and Treasure Valley Community College.   

This week, they host Wenatchee Valley on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Walla Walla on Saturday at 4 p.m. In the midst of the battle for first place, Wilks and the Vikings are solely focused on getting better each week.   

“We're getting better every week,” Wilks said. “To get where we want to ge,t which is to win the region and get to the Final Four, you got to get better every week. We tell the girls, ‘You don't get better by putting in fancy, cute plays or tricky defenses. It's getting better at the little things. Every day in practice, we just hammer and refine the little things that make us successful.'”  

BOX SCORE:  

BMCC: 5-6-6-12: 29
BBCC: 15-28-15-23: 81  

    Brooke Warren (22) shoots a free throw against Spokane Community College earlier this season. Warren logged five assists in their win over Blue Mountain Community College Saturday.
  

    Vikings Head Coach Preston Wilks calls out a play to his team against Spokane Community College earlier this season. Wilks said his players consistently rise to the challenges he sets for them.
  

    Brooke Warren (22) drives toward the basket with a defender on her hip in a game against Spokane Community College earlier this season.