Moses Lake still perfect

12-0 Chiefs only unbeaten team in league

MOSES LAKE — The Chiefs defeated the only other unbeaten team in the Columbia Basin League to head to the front of the pack Friday.

Pasco and Moses Lake matched up in a winner-take-the league lead and after a close game through four quarters the Chiefs came out with a 57-54 victory.

"We would like to thank the Tribe and the community for their support of the girls tonight," said Moses Lake head coach Matt Strophy.

It was a 4-point game going into the fourth quarter.

Marielle McKean found Carly Noyes in the paint for a layup to extend the lead for Moses Lake to 46-40.

Noyes committed a foul to put the Lady Bulldogs on the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity. Pasco went 1-for-2 to cut the lead to five.

Moses Lake and Pasco followed it up with two turnovers each. Pasco's second turnover came on a shot clock violation after a tough defensive stand by the Chiefs.

With six minutes remaining in the game, Pasco sent Noyes to the line to shoot two — she went 2-for-2 in a rare perfect effort from the line by the Chiefs who went 18-for-36 on the night.

"If we can shoot that poorly from the free throw line and still win I can't complain," said Strophy. "We played like champions tonight and came out and got it done."

Both teams continued to play tough but it was Moses Lake who was able to push harder on the offensive end with Kelly Sutherland going 1-for-2 at the line and having her free throws followed by a bucket from Ann Noyes to give the Chiefs a 10-point lead.

Pasco began to close the gap with a 1-for-2 stint at the line and a drive to the basket but saw Moses Lake answer with a layup by Ann Noyes for the Chiefs' final field goal of the game.

In the early going, Moses Lake earned a 19-11 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Chiefs opened the second period with a foul from Brin Bergeson that put Pasco on the line for a 2-for-2 stint.

With six minutes remaining Carly Noyes earned the Chiefs' first field goal of the quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs answered, forcing a Moses Lake turnover and earning a bucket to cut it to a 22-18 game.

Carly Noyes, who ended the night with 35 points, continued to battle for the Chiefs with back-to-back layups, finishing off the second basket with an and-1 opportunity that was converted into a 3-point play.

Vanessa Brischle earned her first points in the game from the free throw line, going 2-for-2 with one minute left in the half.

Carly Noyes scored the last field goal of the half on a putback of a Kelly Sutherland free throw that rimmed out to go into the locker room with a 31-23 lead.

Bergeson opened the third quarter with a 2-for-2 stint at the line and had it followed by three consecutive field goals in the paint from Carly Noyes to extend the lead to 11. Carly Noyes finished the scoring run with a 1-for-2 trip to the line. She continued to run the score board for the Chiefs, recording Moses Lake's only field goals in the third quarter.

Moses Lake's Ann Noyes contributed 6 points to Friday's effort. Sutherland and Bergeson recorded 5 points each.

The Chiefs will face Walla Walla at home on Friday. The Lady Blue Devils are currently 10-2 this season.

Moses Lake is on the road at Kamiakin Saturday.