The Bulldogs men’s basketball team traveled south to the annual Pierce College Thanksgiving Tournament for three days, November 29-December 1. Bellevue took second place in the tourney, defeating East Division powerhouse Columbia Basin on the first day by a score of 85-74. Austin O’Keefe provided a lift to the Bulldogs with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Anthony McLaughlin added 13 points, and Jalen Ward and Darien Muongvang contributed 10 each.
On the second day, the Bulldogs faced South Division rival Lane CC. In a tight game that saw the teams tied at 32 by halftime, Bellevue opened things up in the second half to wrap up the game in the Dogs’ favor 66-58. O’Keefe remained hot on the court with 19 points and eight rebounds. A.J. Holloway stepped in with 13 points, including five-for-five at the free-throw line. McLaughlin, while have only nine points on the night, still brought down a team-high 13 rebounds.
However, on December 1, day three of the tournament, it was all over but the shouting when Bellevue came up against Whatcom. In the battle for first place in the Raider Tournament, Bellevue shot only 30% from the floor in the first half and finally managed 55 points to Whatcom’s 69. Muongvang and O’Keefe posted 11 points each, and Holloway added 10.
After a rest of only four days, Bellevue traveled south again, this time taking on Highline CC on Thursday, Dec. 5. Despite 16 points each from Holloway and O’Keefe, the Bulldogs were unable to conjure up enough magic to defeat the Thunderbirds and lost 58-72.
Bellevue men host the 2013 BC Men’s Bulldog Classic December 13-15, with seven visiting teams: East Division’s Big Bend and Walla Walla, West’s Highline and Pierce, South’s Chemeketa, and Olympic and Shoreline from the North. Game times are available at the NWAACC website.
Last Updated February 12, 2014
