Chiefs topple Timberwolves

by Pam ROBEL<br>Herald Sports Editor
| December 29, 2006 8:00 PM

Moses Lake survives third quarter scare for win

MOSES LAKE - The Chiefs defeated Lake City 72-62 in a game that tightened up in the third quarter.

"I think we thought we had the game well in hand and relaxed a little bit in the third quarter. That was a good lesson for us," said Moses Lake head coach Brant Mayo. "They got on a roll and it's a game of momentum."

Moses Lake led the Timberwolves 42-29 at the half and cushioned their lead with a jump shot by Quinn Baker to open the third quarter.

After turnovers by both teams, Cody Meeks and Baker each hit shots to push the lead to 17. With under five minutes remaining in the period, Lake City hit their first field goal of the period but committed a foul and then had their bench hit with a technical foul. Josh Loera hit both of the technical foul free throws for the Chiefs.

Moses Lake was then charged with three consecutive fouls, slowing the pace of the game and giving Lake City a chance to gain momentum with back-to-back 3-point shots to cut the Chiefs' lead to 10.

Moses Lake's woes were not over, as the Timberwolves trimmed the lead down to just one point with less than two minutes to play in the third.

"Our lack of energy in the third quarter hurt us," Mayo said.

Baker pushed the lead to three with a drive down the lane to beat the buzzer.

Both teams continued to battle through the early minutes of the fourth quarter with Moses Lake's Meeks and Baker heading to the line and combining for a 4-for-4 showing. While Lake City earned two buckets from the field to keep the game close.

"They made some good adjustments at the half," said Mayo.

The Chiefs began to pull away again halfway through the fourth. Loera sparked the momentum shift with a layup on an inbounds play to stretch the Moses Lake lead to 58-53.

Jared Walker earned a final layup for Moses Lake in the closing minute.

Moses Lake finished the game at the free throw line with Meeks shooting 1-for-2 and Baker going 2-for-2. Baker's trip to the line was a result of an intentional foul by a Lake City player.

BJ Guerra got the game started for the Chiefs, earning a layup to give Moses Lake an early lead that was padded by a 3-ball by Tyson Garcia. Loera added another three on Moses Lake's next trip down floor to make it 8-5.

"We came out well and played a good first half," Mayo said.

Two buckets, the first from Baker and the second from Ben Waites, propelled Moses Lake to a 6-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

As the second quarter got into swing, Loera found Walker on the arc for another three. Loera continued his unselfish play a minute later, earning a steal and then connecting with Ryan Carpenter for a layup.

Late in the second, Carpenter earned his final points of the night, draining a 3-ball to give Moses Lake a 40-26 lead with under two minutes to play in the half.

Baker led the Chiefs with 19 points. Loera had 15 points. Meeks earned 14 points and 10 boards.