Jeffrey Downs scored 27 points, including 19 in the first half, as fourth-ranked Bellevue Christian sailed past Stevenson 71-50 on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 1A boys state tournament.

The two-time defending state champion Vikings, now 20-3, shot nearly 50 percent from the field (29 of 59) and were never seriously threatened after the first quarter.

Evan Haines added 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Vikings. He also blocked seven shots.

BC outrebounded Stevenson 40-30.

Jereth Robinson paced Stevenson with 20 points, but the Bulldogs had trouble maintaining their offense. They shot just 31 percent (16 of 51) in the game, and made just eight field goals in the first half.

Downs made 10 of 20 field goals, and sank 3 of 8 from behind the three-point arc.

The Vikings will face top-ranked and unbeaten Brewster at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. BC has beaten Brewster for the state title the past two years.

Stevenson -- Neilsen 1-2 0-0 2, Hinzman 3-7 0-0 8, Stump 2-9 2-2 8, Robinson 6-18 7-8 20, Daman 2-6 1-1 5, Manning 1-4 3-6 5, Renner 0-0 0-0 0, West 0-0 0-0 0, Dudley 0-0 0-0 0, Clement 1-1 0-0 2, Wheeler 0-0 0-0 0, Renville 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 16-51 13-17 50.
Bellevue Christian -- D. Downs 2-7 0-0 5, Coulter 0-0 0-0 0, Iseman 1-1 0-0 2, Aly 0-4 0-0 0, Neal 0-0 0-0 0, Kats 0-0 1-2 1, Baranowski 4-9 1-1 9, J. Downs 10-20 4-4 27, Taylor 3-5 0-0 7, Gunderson 0-1 0-0 0, Stack 1-2 2-2 4, Haines 8-10 0-2 16. Totals 29-59 8-11 71.
Stevenson	15	10	12	13	--	50
Bellevue Christian	23	17	15	16	--	71
3-point goals--S 5-14 (Hinzman 2-3, Stump 2-7, Robinson 1-2, Neilson 0-1, Manning 0-1), BC 5-14 (J. Downs 3-8, D. Downs 1-1, Taylor 1-2, Aly 0-1, Baranowski 0-2). Rebounds--S 30 (Renville 5, Daman 5), BC 40 (Haines 12, J. Downs 6). Assists--S 6 (Stump 2, Robinson 2, Manning 2), BC 9 (J. Downs 3). Steals--S 6 (Robinson 2, Manning 2), BC 9 (J. Downs 2, Taylor 2). Blocked shots--S 2, BC 7 (Haines 7). Fouled out--None. Total fouls--S 13, BC 16. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--S 15, BC 13.