MOSES LAKE — A night after a devastating overtime loss to Wenatchee Valley, 90-88, Walla Walla Community College went to a match-up zone and defeated Big Bend 70-66 here Saturday in NWAC East Region mens basketball action.
“Good comeback win,” Warrior coach Jeff Reinland said. “We were really down after last night. This was incredible. Our games (with Big Bend) usually wind up 120-116. They struggled against our match up zone and we defended better.”
The Warriors trailed 36-32 at intermission, and Beau Tiileman put the Warriors up 68-66 with 20 ticks left. The Vikings had a look at a 3, but missed and they fouled Landon Radliff with :03 and Radliff drained both free throws to run the final to 70-66.
Tiileman and Caulin Bakalarski led the Warriors with 14 each. Dalton Thompson and Gabe Porter checked into double digits for WWCC as Thompson hit 10 and Porter scored 13. The Warriors needed all of them to offset the Vikings’ Jacob McCord who scored 27 and pulled down 19 rebounds.
“We hung in there as we were down 11 at one point,” Reinland added. “We stayed patient and made a couple of shots.”
In Wenatchee Friday, the Warriors had their chances in regulation but only converted half their free throws down the stretch as the Knights got it tied at 89-89 at the end of regulation.
An 11-9 overtime run gave Wenatchee the win.
“We had the game won if we make our free throws,” Reinland commented. “We’re not shooting well (31-of-88 from the floor and 12-of-42 from behind the arc). We’re frustrated, but give Wenatchee credit they are a scrappy bunch and they play hard.”
Bakalarski led the Warrior offense with 21. Radliff added 20. Tiileman went for a double, double, 11 points, 10 rebounds but it wasn’t enough.
The Warriors drop to 8-3 in the East, one back of co leaders Spokane and North Idaho.
WWCC returns to the Dietrich Dome Wednesday to host Yakima.
