Chiefs push past Lady Lions

Moses Lake 66, Kennewick 53

MOSES LAKE — The Chiefs clung to a 4-point lead going into the second quarter against the Lady Lions.

Kennewick fouled to begin the quarter, sending Lorin Montgomery to the line for a 1-for-2 showing to make it 12-7 in the early going.

"The lack of intensity we showed in the second quarter is not what Moses Lake basketball is about," said Moses Lake head coach Matt Stropy.

With just under a minute played, Kennewick drew the foul, and earned an and-one to tie the game.

A turnover and quick foul by Moses Lake put the Lady Lions on the line for another and-one to give Kennewick a 3-point lead.

After another bucket by Kennewick coach Strophy took a time-out to settle his team down.

The Chiefs' troubles continued with another and-one for the Lady Lions to give Moses Lake a 7-point deficit.

Moses Lake began to battle back with a drive by Montgomery and a long jumper from Vanessa Brischle to make it 21-17.

Kennewick's final and-one came with three minutes left in the half and pushed the lead back to seven.

"We gave up four and-ones, that's 12 points," said Strophy. "Lorin (Montgomery), Vanessa (Brischle) and Brin (Bergeson) saved our bacon at the end of the second quarter, keeping it close."

Both teams continued to battle with Brischle draining a 3-ball from the top of the key to make it a 26-20 ball game.

Montgomery earned the final field goal of the half for the Chiefs with a three and had it followed by a trip to the line for teammate Brin Bergeson. Bergeson earned the and-one to cut it to a 4-point Kennewick lead.

"Having four starters on the bench at the end of the second quarter limited us but the players on the floor did a good job of putting points on the board," said Strophy.

The Lady Lions finished off the half with a hoop of their own to make it 33-27 at the break.

Montgomery opened the third quarter with back-to-back threes for the Chiefs to tie the game at 33.

Both teams continued to push up court with Moses Lake taking the lead with an off-the-glass layup from Carly Noyes.

Kennewick tied it at 37 but fell behind after a long jumper by Bergeson.

Ann and Carly Noyes continued to put pressure on the Lady Lions with Ann going 2-for-2 at the line and Carly earning another layup near the end of the third to make it 43-39.

Carly set up an off-the-dribble drive by Bergeson with a blocked shot at the other end of the floor and had the offensive onslaught finished off with a 3-ball from Brischle at the buzzer to make it 48-39.

After taking the lead in third Moses Lake never looked back with Kelly Sutherland finding Carly for a layup on a fastbreak for the final field goal for the Chiefs.

Sutherland earned the last points of the game for Moses Lake with a 2-for-2 trip at the line with under one second left, giving the Chiefs a 66-53 win.

Carly Noyes led Moses Lake with 18 points and was 8-for-8 from the line. Montgomery earned 12 points for the Chiefs. Brischle and Bergeson put up 9 points each. Sutherland finished the game with 8 points for Moses Lake.