MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings (23-2) earned a statement win over Columbia Basin College on Wednesday. After going to overtime, they squeezed out an 80-75 win as they avenged a prior loss to the Hawks. 

“We obviously were mindful of our only (league) loss of the season,” Head Coach Preston Wilks said. “It was one of those games too, with two minutes to go we had the lead and we just didn't execute, and most of the time we do. This year we've been really good when games are close within a couple possessions, and that one didn't go the way we wanted to.”   

The Vikings took the lead early as they were consistent with defensive rebounding. By halftime, they led 34-32 over the Hawks. In the second half, Big Bend continued to ride the hot hands of Kaliyah Evans and Oakley Homer as they maintained their lead. However, CBC made the necessary adjustments to force the game into overtime. BBCC kept their foot on the gas pedal to pull off the win.   

“We just knew that every possession counted,” Wilks said. “We had to be purposeful in that fourth quarter and try to do our best. We did it at times, and then we didn’t at times. Maybe in regulation we should have won, and it didn't go our way, but it sure went our way in overtime.”   

The Lady Vikings had a 15-11 lead heading into the second quarter thanks to efficient ball movement and scoring by Evans, Homer, Claire Cox, Ashlynn Purcell and Emily Dana. In the second, CBC began to push the pace, but Big Bend punched back throughout. As a team they went five for eight from the three-point line to help them go into halftime with the lead.   

Evans led the team in scoring for the third quarter with nine points. Supporting her was Cox, Homer, Purcell and Oaklie Jackman who all contributed buckets for the team. CBC still put pressure on the Vikings as they still outscored them 19-18.   

This back and forth carried over into the fourth quarter as the Hawks kept up with BBCC. By the end of regulation, the game was tied 68-68. In overtime, Big Bend outrebounded CBC 6-4 as they found the separation on the scoreboard they had been looking for. Evans, Homer and Jackman combined for 12 points to pull ahead of the Hawks for the win.   

Wilks preaches “good, better, best,” to his players when it comes to shot selection, he said. As a team, they finished with 20 assists; Evans and Homer combined for 13 of them.  

“The girls were finding each other to a degree that we haven't previously, and that was so fun to watch,” he said.   

Prior to this game, the Vikings lost Brooke Warren for the season due to an ACL injury. Wilks described her as an engine for their offense and an important pillar of their defense. With her being absent on the hardwood the rest of the season, Wilks and the coaching staff preached togetherness as they did some soul searching, he said.   

“Kansas men upset Arizona men without their best player, and we use that as an example, ‘Ladies, we can do this, but it has to be together.’ That was our number one key. We have to show up and show them that we can do this together,” Wilks said.   

As the Lady Vikings head into their final four games of the season, three of them are on the road. As they prepare to finish the season strong and keep hold of first place in the Eastern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference, Wilks is focused on giving his players some rest.   

“Getting on a bus and traveling multiple hours, it wears down your body. One thing we did to get ready is we took the day off today,” he said. “We're going to need a lot of energy on Saturday. ‘You guys are number one right now in the region. You have a target.’ Everybody's going to bring their best, and we need to make sure we bring energy, because if we bring energy and effort, then we're always okay.”   

BOX SCORE:   

CBC: 11-21-19-17-7: 75  

BBCC: 15-19-18-16-12: 80 

    Clarie Cox (10) shoots a three-pointer against CBC. Cox finished with 10 points two rebounds, two steals and an assist.
  

    The Vikings’ Saydee Pebley (21) posts up in the paint against a defender from Columbia Basin College.
  

    Kaliyah Evans (13) drives into traffic to put up a shot against Columbia Basin College. Evans finished the game with 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds.