PASCO -- The Columbia Basin College men's and women's basketball teams got a wake-up call Saturday in their own house, as the visiting Yakima Valley Yaks dominated in NWAACC East Region victories.
In the women's game, YVC led by as many as 29 points before settling for an 81-61 victory.
The Yak men used a key 9-0 run late in the first half and was never threatened in an 89-57 win over the Hawks.
"They were just ready to play," said CBC men's coach Rolando Garcia, "and we weren't."
Chalk both games up to learning experiences.
"You've got to keep it in perspective," said CBC women's coach Cheryl Holden. "It's one game, and we need to look at how and why we got beat."
The women's game was a bit of a surprise, as it featured the top-ranked Hawks (15-2, 3-1 NWAACC East) against the eighth-ranked Yaks (13-4, 3-1), the defending NWAACC champions.
But the game got out of control in a hurry, as Brittany Newcomb and Simone Jordan were sinking 3s from all over the court for YVC.
For CBC, center Tiffany Idler was hampered with early foul trouble, and when she went to the bench the Hawks lost one of their top scoring options for a while.
YVC went into halftime holding a 36-20 lead. CBC tried to close the gap early in the second half, but YVC again went on a tear to put the game away.
"I think this game was a result that all year long we didn't have our whole team together until now," said YVC coach Cody Butler. "I like the way this team is coming together like last year's team. This team is getting there."
The biggest difference in this game was at the 3-point arc, where YVC outscored CBC 30-3.
"That's the game right there," said Holden, whose team shot a paltry 8 percent from the arc (1-for-12). "They outscored us in points off turnovers 24-14. We've just got to work harder. Our execution in the first half was just so timid."
Newcomb and Jordan, a transfer from North Idaho, each scored 23 points. Jordan also added 11 rebounds.
Jennifer Noon was the only Hawks in double-figure scoring, with 23 points. Katherine Samuels added 10 assists for CBC.
The CBC men matched YVC point-for-point for the first nine minutes, and the Hawks actually led 16-14 with 10:40 to play.
But YVC went on a quick 6-0 run with a Johnnie Diggs basket, and a basket and two free throws by Amir Royal for a 20-16 Yak lead.
It was still a two-possession game -- YVC leading 30-24 -- with 5:45 remaining in the first half when the Yaks exploded for a 9-0 run, led by Jason Bagby's four points.
CBC could not answer, and that was the game.
"This game is all about runs," said Garcia. "You've got to respond, and we didn't. There's a reason why Yakima beat Big Bend."
Garcia said he felt his team just wasn't ready to play.
"We had a lackadaisical shootaround this morning," Garcia said. "I just hope we bounce back. And we will."
The Yaks, who have six players from the Las Vegas area on their roster, were the more aggressive team, taking the ball to the basket often. YVC was 24-for-33 from the free-throw line, while CBC was 3-for-10.
DeShawn Battle and Dabrail Henton each had 16 points to lead YVC (10-6, 3-1), while Royal scored 14, puncuated with three high-flying dunks.
Chiawana graduates Stephen Walter and Justin Smith each scored 11 points to lead the Hawks (6-9, 2-2).
YVC Men 89, CBC 57
YAKIMA VALLEY -- Diggs 4-6 0-2 8, DeShawn Battle 5-13 3-4 16, Royal 5-7 4-6 14, Martinez 0-0 0-0 0, Bagby 4-5 1-2 9, Molina 3-7 3-4 10, Dabrail Henton 4-10 6-7 16, Jensen 3-8 2-2 9, Romero 0-3 3-4 3, Flowers 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 29-60 24-33 89.
COLUMBIA BASIN -- Jones 0-3 0-0 0, Barbaza 0-4 0-0 0, Stephen Walter 5-8 0-0 11, HeavyRunner 3-11 2-4 9, Justin Smith 5-13 0-0 11, De La Garza 3-6 0-0 8, Schrank 0-1 0-0 0, Piippo 2-7 0-0 5, Ponce 0-2 0-0 0, Igbinoba 4-9 0-0 8, Hay 0-1 0-0 0, Haynes 2-4 1-6 5. Totals 24-69 3-10 57.
Halftime-- YV 47-33. 3-point goals--YV 7-16 (Battle 3-5, Molina 1-1, Henton 2-5 Jensen 1-5), CBC 6-19 (Jones 0-1, Barbaza 0-1, Walter 1-3, HeavyRunner 1-2, Smith 1-3, De La Garza 2-4, Piippo 1-2, Ponce 0-2, Hay 0-1). Rebounds--YV 41 (Henton 8), CBC 42 (Igbinoba 6). Assists--YV 17 (Diggs 6), CBC 14 (De La Garza 6). Turnovers--YV 12, CBC 18. Fouls--YV 12, CBC 19.
YVC women 81, CBC 61
YAKIMA VALLEY -- Brittney Newcomb 6-19 6-6 23, Brewster 0-3 2-2 2, Cox 4-6 4-5 12, Swetzof 1-7 4-4 6, Gonzales 2-4 1-2 7, Gonzales 1-2 0-0 2, Lekson 0-1 0-0 0, Ferguson 1-3 0-0 2, Simone Jordan 10-16 0-0 23, Zapien 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 26-63 19-21 81.
COLUMBIA BASIN -- Vannoy 3-5 0-0 7, Strom 1-2 1-2 3, Idler 2-8 0-0 4, Jennifer Noon 11-23 1-2 23, Young 2-4 1-1 5, Avery-Winchester 1-1 0-0 2, Jimenez 1-9 1-2 3, Samuels 3-10 0-0 6, Molsbarger 0-3 0-0 0, Reynolds 2-7 4-5 8. Totals 26-72 8-12 61.
Halftime-- YV 36-20. 3-point goals--YV 10-21 (Newcomb 5-10, Swetzof 0-3, Gonzales 2-3, Lekson 0-1, Jordan 3-3), CBC 1-12 (Vannoy 1-1, Noon 0-6, Jimenez 0-1, Samuels 0-2, Molsbarger 0-2). Rebounds--YV 47 (Jordan 11), CBC 40 (Idler 6). Assists--YV 17 (Newcomb 6), CBC 20 (Samuels 10). Turnovers--YV 15, CBC 14. Fouls--YV 13, CBC 18.
