Chiefs stumble at home

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chiefs boys basketball team hosted the visiting Sunnyside Grizzlies for Moses Lake’s second Columbia Basin Big Nine conference game of the year.

The Chiefs were unable to hold off a Sunnyside charge in the second half as the Grizzlies held on for the 60-54 victory.

Saturday’s game was the first home contest for the boys basketball team since senior guard Josh Loera scored his 1,000 career point. The crowd gave Loera a standing ovation in a brief ceremony before Saturday night’s game.

The Chiefs got off to a slow start Saturday night as Moses Lake fell behind 14-13 after the first quarter.

Moses Lake rallied with 20 second-quarter points to take a 33-25 lead into the half.

The Grizzlies recovered in the third quarter and Sunnyside tied the game heading into the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs couldn’t hold back the Grizzlies in the final eight minutes and Sunnyside earned the 60-54 Big Nine conference victory.

Loera led all scorers Saturday night with 16 points.

The senior said he is humbled by his scoring feat.

“I’ve had some time to let it set in and I see that it is an important mark,” he said. “It was a team effort. (They) got me the ball.”