The 2005-06 season was one which saw the Bellevue Community College Men’s Basketball team grow into a legitimate contender in the NWAACC. Posting a 25-7 record (14-2 in the North Division), the Bulldogs claimed their second consecutive Northern Division title, and the first outright under third-year coach Jeremy Eggers (Bellevue shared the top spot with Peninsula College in the 2004-05 season).
Bellevue got off to a hot start in the pre-season, going 9-3 and made it to the championship game of both the Pierce College Thanksgiving and the Bellevue Community College Crossover Tournaments. Pre-season play was highlighted by several very close games, including a three-point victory at Highline, and an overtime thriller at home versus Pierce College. In both contests, the Bulldogs showed a toughness and resolve under pressure that would resurface time and again during league play.
The North Division was once again highly competitive, with several teams vying for the top spot. While Peninsula and Shoreline were the primary contenders to challenge for the league title, the Bulldogs got tough tests from virtually every team in the league. A tough loss to Peninsula at home on January 18th dropped Bellevue into a tie with Shoreline for second place, but the Bulldogs bounced back by winning their next seven games. The rematch with Peninsula on February 18th in Port Angeles was an epic contest that took overtime to decide. Big shots and big plays by Bulldog sophomore captains Bryce Daub, Josh Lostlen, and Luke Landdeck, as well as timely shooting by freshman Paul Brockman resulted in Bellevue claiming its eighth straight victory, as well as sole possession of first place. The team never relinquished the top spot, and ended league play with its second consecutive title, and a number one seed to the NWAACC Championship Tournament.
Ranked third in the final coaches’ poll of the season, the Bulldogs weren’t sneaking up on anyone at the NWAACC Tournament. Clackamas gave Bellevue a tough test in the first round, and Grays Harbor displayed a potent offense in the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, with two gutsy wins, the Bulldogs found themselves in the semi-finals facing a familiar opponent in Highline Community College. The teams split in their pre-season contests, with the Thunderbirds beating Bellevue at home on December 3rd, and the Bulldogs returning the favor a few weeks later on December 21st. The rubber match would prove to be a great game, as the teams fought a tough defensive battle. Bellevue held a small lead for most of the contest, but Highline made a late run to take a seven point lead. As they had all season, the Bulldogs battled back to get within three inside the last minute. With 17 seconds to go, Landdeck’s three pointer from the wing bounced off of the back rim and the Bulldogs were forced to foul. Bellevue was unable to regain control of the ball, and fell 68-63.
Highline went on to win the NWAACC Championship, beating two-time champion Lower Columbia 70-58. Bellevue played the Community College of Spokane in the 3rd-6th place game, and was narrowly defeated by a score of 72-70.
Last Updated November 1, 2013
