Vikes Drop Four Straight in Tough Stretch

After starting their conference schedule with a promising 1-0 record, the Big Bend Community College Vikings have hit a rough patch, dropping their last three games. On January 22, they hoped to break their skid when they hosted Yakima Valley College at the DeVries Activity Center, but a strong second-half performance from Yakima proved to be the difference, as the Vikings fell 69-66.

The game started in BBCC's favor. Their offense found its rhythm early, dropping 35 points in the first half while stifling Yakima's shooting. The Vikings' defense was on point, holding Yakima to just 31% shooting from the field. As a result, BBCC went into halftime with a 35-27 lead, holding a comfortable seven-point cushion.

However, the second half told a very different story. Yakima's leading scorer, Jose Brown, turned up the heat, going an impressive 9-of-10 from the floor in the final 20 minutes. Brown finished the game with a jaw-dropping 37 points, helping propel Yakima to a 55% shooting clip in the second half. Meanwhile, the Vikings' offense began to cool, shooting below 40% in the second frame. The once-healthy lead quickly evaporated.

As the game neared its conclusion, Yakima edged ahead and held on for a dramatic 69-66 win. Despite a valiant effort from BBCC, who had strong performances from Gideon Harris and Marki Ibrahim — both scoring 13 points — it wasn't enough to secure the victory. Ibrahim added a double-double to his tally, grabbing 10 rebounds, but the Vikings' second-half struggles proved too much to overcome.

This latest setback drops BBCC to 1-4 in conference play, continuing their struggle to find consistency. The Vikings will look to regroup and get back on track when they travel to Pendleton, Oregon, on Saturday, January 25, for a showdown with Blue Mountain Community College.