EVERETT — It’s hard to say if the Big Bend Community College women’s basketball team was punching above its weight this postseason, taking out a No. 1 and a No. 2 seed at the NWAC women’s basketball championships before falling to the eventual champions.

But the Lady Vikings (22-10) did produce the third-best tournament finish in program history, placing third in their first NWAC Tournament in 15 years, with three named to the all-tournament team.

Hailey Garrity and Callie Gronning wrapped up their Big Bend careers with an all-tournament selection and freshman Leah Dougherty jump-started hers with the same honor.

“It was a magical run we went on there. The tournament was great and it showcased their skills. We had three girls named to the all-tournament. Considering the other third-place team, Bellevue only had one, I thought that said a lot about how they played,” Big Bend coach Preston Wilks said. “The run that we had captured everybody’s attention and a lot of people were cheering for us to keep it going.”

The regular season boiled down to two prominent teams. There was eventual champion Walla Walla (32-1) and Umpqua (31-2) and then there was the rest. As it turned out, Big Bend was the best of the rest.

Garrity, a 5-foot-11, post player from Beaverton, Ore., had a double-double in all three tournament games, averaging 14.6 points and 13.6 rebounds, including the 19-point night against West No. 1 seed Grays Harbor in the opener.

“The first night was huge. We had Hailey going up against the No. 1 scorer and rebounder in the NWAC (Alexia Thrower, Grays Harbor) and she matched her in every sense,” Wilks said. “I thought that night alone got her named to the all-tournament team. She concluded all three games with a double-double.”

Dougherty, a 5-10 guard from Rexburg, Idaho, took over in the paint when the ikings needed a post presence against Everett, the No. 2 seed from the North.

“Leah was solid every night. She carried us at times during crunch time,” Wilks said. “It was nice to see her recognized for her efforts.”

Gronning, a 5-7 shooting guard from Soda Springs, Idaho, averaged 14.6 points through the tournament, including a big 25-point night against Everett.

“Callie obviously had the best game of her career against Everett (25 points, six rebounds, five assists) in front of their big home crowd,” Wilks said. “The last night against Walla Walla she had 19, so she was well deserved.”

Wilks career record is now 153-157 over an 11-year span, including two at the NWAC tournament. His Vikings were the fifth Big Bend women’s team to qualify for the tournament and they are the highest since Eric Spencer’s bunch won it all in 2002-03 and were the runners-up in 2002-03.

NWAC All-Tournament Team

MVP: Cierra Jo McKeown, Walla Walla

Most Inspirational: Taylor Turner, Walla Walla

First Team

Jordan Stotler, Umpqua

Dajanay Powell, Umpqua

Brenda Akota, Bellevue

Jade Skidmore, Walla Walla

Second Team

Leah Dougherty, Big Bend

Callie Gronning, Big Bend

Hailey Garrity, Big Bend

Taylor Stricklin, Umpqua

Theresa Acock, Walla Walla