MOSES LAKE — After a special season that saw the Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings compile a 27-4 record, they're back in the gym looking to build on last year's success. According to Head Coach Preston Wilks, the team has been itching to get the season started. 

"It seems like you wait forever to get the season started, you get these girls signed up in the late spring, everybody gets antsy," he said. "We seem to be doing well, and the girls are all on board and working together, working hard. They seem to like each other, but they also, so far, seem like they understand that you got to go hard at each other in practice, and worry about being friends after practice, and that's been nice so far." 

The Vikings' dominant record led them to claiming the East Region championship in the Northwest Athletic Conference. Not only did they earn the regional title, but they rode that momentum into a run to the Elite Eight in the NWAC basketball championships tournament in March.  

Going into that season, the challenge was navigating a smaller roster count. Despite a roster of nine players, they were able to counteract this challenge with height on the court. This year, it's somewhat the opposite, with 12 players but some of the height missing compared to 2025. 

"Obviously we're not as tall, but I'd say we're quicker than the group overall last year," Wilks said. "We're just going to have to use that to our advantage. We're going to probably be able to get to the paint a little bit better this year, and we're just going to have to get great at making reads once we attack the paint. This group (has) been progressing really well in that area, and so we're going to use that to our advantage. We're going to try to get to the paint more and then share that ball and see if we can still light it up like we did last year from beyond the arc." 

Capable of leading the charge on the hardwood are returning players Claire Cox, Brooke Warren, Mallory Henrie and Emily Dana. 

"Us four, we're so close, and we were all very good players last year," Warren said. "Bringing that back into this year, I think we can help the new players out and set the tone for what games are going to be like, how hard we go in practice, and if us four can do that, I feel like the new players would catch on really quick. And already we've started improving so much." 

Warren suffered a torn ACL in the latter stages of last season and is still working her way back into the rotation full-time, Wilks said. The injury has not discouraged her from helping the team in any way she can while she continues to recover.  

"Coming off of an injury mentally, it's hard getting back into things," Warren said. "I honestly felt pretty good coming back. I feel like the most challenging part so far has been wearing my brace, because it's been scratching up my legs and it pinches. It's just something new I have to get used to; I've only had it for (about) a week. But I feel like after that, the sky is the limit; I've just got to keep working hard." 

Each new season brings a new team full of new challenges. However, that isn't impacting the expectations Cox and the rest of the team have this year.  

"Obviously, we want to go to the (NWAC) tournament at the end of the season," she said. "But honestly, getting better every single day and knowing that we're pushing our hardest and that we take no days off when we go hard every single day and come out with wins as much as we can." 

The Lady Vikings have their work cut out for them this season as the East Region will be tough once again and is home to the back-to-back NWAC champions Walla Walla Community College. Additionally, they'll face high-quality conference teams like Clark, Umpqua, Whatcom and Peninsula.  

However, Wilks' focus remains internally on his team and not what is going on with other teams in the league, he said. 

"Years ago, I used to always worry about other teams in the region, but that's just lost energy," said the coach. "I just tend to focus on my team, what we've got to do better. We do have some great opportunities this year to play some of the best teams in the NWAC. The East Region has won the NWAC the last several years, and so we're going to be battling night in and night out." 

Similar to Walla Walla, when teams like the Lady Vikings have a lot of success, naturally a target can develop for other teams to aim for. While it does not dominate Wilks and his team's thoughts, it provides the right amount of motivation at times, he said.  

However, what gets Coach Wilks fired up the most is the question mark of whether or not this team can come together to reach their collective potential, he said.  

"I love that whole journey from 'Can we do it?' to 'Did we do it?' It's almost like renewal of life every year and that brings a lot of energy to me," Wilks said. "That unknown journey that we take together. Can we can we do it? Are we going to fall apart when the going gets tough? Are we going to rally together and overcome and let those trials harden us and make us better, and you never know. You hope and pray that it does, but you don't know. That's what really gets me the energy and the juice to do this at my age, and after how many years I've been doing it." 

The Vikings' first official home game is on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. when they host Pacific Northwest Christian College. As they gear up for the season, Wilks and the Lady Vikings are hopeful to see a strong turnout at games to see what they are bringing to the court this season – including a busy December full of home games. 

"Normally, we're on the road for all of December, but we'll have about six home games during December. So hopefully, fans will, if they're looking for something to do during the holidays, come out and cheer on these guys and see a great group of kids," Wilks said. "We've been impressed so far by just the overall quality of character of these girls and how much they care about what they do and how they do it. It's been really cool so far to see them do that." 

ROSTER: 

Names, Jersey, Class 

Miriam Stafford, 1, FR 

Audrey Anderson, 3, SO 

Mallory Henrie, 4, SO 

Briana Cedillo, 5, FR 

Claire Cox, 10, SO 

Emily Dana, 11, SO 

Taylin Beck, 12, FR 

Morgan Rogers, 13, FR 

Brooke Grunander, 21, FR 

Brooke Warren, 22, SO 

Taylor Janes, 23, FR 

Mya Bishoff, 25, FR 

    The Vikings' Brooke Grunader (right) posts up against Mallory Henrie (left) during scrimmages at practice.
  

    Transfer sophomore Audrey Anderson sets her feet on defense during scrimmages at Big Bend Community Colleges practice Thursday.
  

    Vikings Head Coach Preston Wilks (left) talks with Mallory Henrie (right) during practice Thursday.
  

    Brooke Warren (22) drives along the perimeter against Taylin Beck (12) during scrimmages at Thursdays practice.