Ely scores 32 in Big Bend's win over CBC
Big Bend's Jai Jai Ely (25) sizes up Columbia Basin's Dust Petragallo Wednesday at the DeVries Activity Center.
MOSES LAKE — Jai Jai Ely found his rhythm early
And once he was in rhythm it was difficult for Columbia Basin to stop the high-flying guard.
Behind Ely’s game-high 32 points, Big Bend remained undefeated in the NWAC East with an 105-92 win over Columbia Basin.
Ely, who’s season scoring average entering Wednesday’s game was 10.33, credited his teammates for his big night.
“They were keying on a bunch of different players because we have so many weapons so my teammates helped me get open,” he said. “We were running through our offense so it was just coming back to me. That’s all.”
Ryker Pierce and Mogga Lado were two of the weapons Ely referred too. Pierce and Lado scored 24 and 22 points, respectively.
The balanced scoring of Big Bend has been key to a fast start in regional play.
Currently, the Runnin’ Vikes have four players averaging over 10 points per game: Pierce, Lado, Ely and Keshawn Liggins. Leo Behrend and Wyatt Johnson have also shown the ability to score big this season.
“We have so many weapons even starting from the bench,” Ely said. “Anybody can play and go off at any minute.”
Columbia Basin received a first-hand look at the potency of the Big Bend offense in the first half when the Runnin’ Vikes opened the game on a 15-2 run and led by as much as 25 points.
The Hawks methodically shaved the deficit down to 14 points at halftime.
Big Bend’s lead continued to shrink as the second half wore on, with CBC drawing as close as five points.
“Our defense was lacking for a minute and then we had to get right back to the beginning of the game,” Ely said. “We had to keep getting it into Mogga because he was finishing well.”
Lado quelled Columbia Basin’s momentum by working in the post and drawing fouls.
With the lead hovering at nine points, Johnson and AJ Miles splashed consecutive three-pointers and Lado made a pair of free throws to push Big Bend ahead 92-76.
The threat was over and the Runnin’ Vikes bled the final two minutes of the game.
Big Bend sits atop the NWAC East and has won five games in a row, but with the league schedule not even two weeks old the work is far from over.
“There’s more to come so we’ve got to just keep pushing,” Ely said.
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