BULLDOGS TO LANE CC FOR 2012 CROSSOVER
December 17, 2012

Tayler Flemming led Bellevue with 12 points in their opening win at the Lane Crossover. photo by Rich Dworkis

On Thursday, Dec. 13, the Bellevue College women’s basketball team traveled to Eugene, Oregon, to participate in the three-day 2012 Cross-Over Tournament hosted by Lane Community College. The tournament included two teams from each region: Bellevue and Peninsula from the North, Spokane and Yakima Valley from the East, Clark and South Puget Sound represented the West, and Lane and Linn-Benton from the South Region.

First up for the Bulldogs was Linn-Benton on Friday. Bellevue started the game well, getting out to an early lead that they were able to hold on to throughout the first half, and went into the intermission up nine points, 32-23. In the second half, the Bulldogs extended the gap and closed out the first-round game with a 54-35 win. Tayler Flemming led all scorers for the Bulldogs with 12, followed by
Demarea Caples with 11.

On Saturday, Yakima Valley, a traditionally strong East Region team, was the next opponent for Bellevue, and the Bulldogs found themselves struggling in the first half. “We really struggled offensively, and when we do that, we start to play as individuals, gamble on defense and just try to do too much, which just digs the hole deeper,” said Bellevue head coach Brent Hermanson.  At the half, the Bulldogs trailed 22-33 on 29.6% shooting from the floor. In the second half, the Bulldogs came out firing and were able to improve their offensive output, scoring 41, but were unable to make up the entire deficit they dug in the first half, and found themselves on the short end of the final score 67-63.  “You just have to be so perfect when you dig a hole against good teams, and they just have to be average,” said Hermanson. A bright spot for the Bulldogs was the play of Chanel Cambronero who scored 18 points, followed by Kaitlynn Bunger with 12 points, and Brenna Anderson with 11.

On Sunday, the Bulldogs came up against Spokane for the second time in the pre-season, having lost 63-58 to the Sasquatch at the Everett Tournament in mid-November. Once again Bellevue struggled to score offensively.  “It’s like a bad movie that is always on TV,” said Hermanson.  “We’ve lost four games now, and we lost them all the same way: the lack of offensive production in the first half.”  This time, the Bulldogs found themselves down at the half 31-14.  “For our team to manage only 14 points against anyone is ridiculous,” said Hermanson.  In the second half, although the Bulldogs game out firing again, outscoring Spokane 45-34, it wasn’t enough and Bellevue ended with a 59-65 loss. Cambronero again led the Bulldogs scoring with 25 points, and Caples added 11. 

Next up, Bellevue (5-4) hosts the Washington Athletic Club on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.