Tigers survive challenge from Jacks, stay perfect
Boys basketball recaps
EPHRATA - The Quincy Jackrabbits controlled the tempo and, for the most part, controlled the Ephrata Tigers' leading scorers.
But the Central Washington Athletic Conference-leading Tigers controlled the final result.
Ephrata (6-0 overall, 4-0 CWAC) maintained its undefeated mark last Friday night, holding off a determined Quincy squad 57-42 at Marty O'Brien Court.
The Jacks (3-3, 1-3) got a game-high 21 points from Eric Martin and limited Ephrata stars Patrick Simon and Daniel Simon to 28 combined points, but it wasn't enough to spring the upset.
"We let Quincy dictate the tempo," Tigers head coach Brandon Evenson said. "They slowed it down and did a great job on that."
Daniel Simon, the Tigers' senior co-captain and leading scorer, struggled in the first half and scored just six points. But he found some rhythm in the second half, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Patrick Simon added 12 points on four 3-pointers.
Ephrata's lead was a solid 31-16 at halftime, but the Jacks rallied within six going to the fourth quarter. That's when the Tigers' offense took charge - they shot 63 percent in the second half - and eventually built the lead to 16 with under 2 minutes remaining.
"We took control in the fourth and played pretty well in the fourth," Evenson said.
Martin shot 7 for 14 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to keep Quincy close.
After an extended holiday break, Ephrata returns to the court on Friday, Jan. 4, at Prosser. Tip time is 7:30 p.m. Quincy will host Othello the same night, also a 7:30 p.m. start.
Moses Lake Christian 54, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 49
HARTLINE - After falling behind 15-7 early on, the Lions went on a huge third-quarter run to take the lead and eventually win a non-league contest over the Warriors on Friday.
Adrian Moffet, the Lions' leading scorer for the season, poured in a game-high 23 points as Moses Lake Christian used a 19-9 third-period spark to lead 41-35. Jesse Bassett added 11 points for the Lions. Garrett Jess and Brandon Boutain scored 16 apiece to pace ACH.
The Lions open their holiday tournament on Thursday against Bridgeport at 7:30 p.m. ACH starts at tournament in Waterville on Friday, playing the host Shockers at 7:30 p.m.
Lind-Ritzville 61, Odessa 36
RITZVILLE - The Broncos cemented their Saturday night Bi-County League win over the Tigers with an impressive second half, outscoring them 33-20.
Lind-Ritzville's defense was superb, holding all Odessa players in single digits. Bryce Todd was the Tigers' leading scorer with eight points.
Jamie Stevenson was the game's leading scorer, tallying 19 points for the Broncos, and teammate Matt Saetre added 12. Cory Whitmore and Alex Pfeifer scored eight points apiece for Lind-Ritzville.
The Broncos (8-1 overall, 5-1 Bi-County) travel to Lacrosse-Washtucna on Friday for a 6 p.m. start, while the Tigers (3-4, 1-4) take time off and travel to Almira/Coulee-Hartline on Jan. 4.
Lind-Ritzville 53, St. John-Endicott 34
RITZVILLE - On Friday, the Broncos held the visiting Eagles to eight combined points in the first and third quarters, winning the non-league game in a rout.
Matt Saetre paced the Broncos with 18 points and Jamie Stevenson scored 13. Lind-Ritzville led 21-19 at halftime, but pushed it to 35-22 with a 14-3 surge in the third quarter.
Selah 53, Othello 46
OTHELLO - The Huskies led by eight after one period but were overcome in big second- and fourth-quarter spurts by the visiting Vikings in a CWAC showdown on Thursday night.
Othello had an early 14-6 lead before Selah grabbed a 25-21 lead going to the half. Othello tied the score at 37-37 going to the fourth quarter, but couldn't match Selah's offensive leadership of Kyle Washut (12 points) and Brett Dodeward (10 points).
The Huskies' Roman Pruneda led all scorers with 16 points, but was the only Othello player in double digits.
Othello, which remained winless in CWAC play, travels to Quincy on Friday, Jan. 4 for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Wilbur-Creston 51, Soap Lake 38
SOAP LAKE - Also on Friday, the Eagles fell into a big first half hole and wound up on the short end of a non-league finale against the visiting Wildcats.
Wilbur-Creston earned a 35-17 bulge at halftime and won despite scoring just 16 second-half points. Soap Lake's Daniel Coreas scored a team-high nine points, Alex Overall scored eight and Kyler Moats added seven.
The Eagles travel to Davenport for a holiday tournament this Friday and Saturday.
Sprague-Harrington 38, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 37
HARTLINE - On Thursday night, the visiting Falcons overcame a 22-18 halftime deficit and won a Bi-County League contest over the Warriors.
ACH led 10-4 after one quarter, but Sprague-Harrington's 11-4 run in the third quarter put the Warriors behind 28-26. Garrett Jess had 16 points to lead ACH, Brandon Boutain added eight and Kyle Tucker scored seven.