Moses Lake, Pasco girls will play for title
Prep basketball recaps
RICHLAND - The Moses Lake and Pasco girls took care of business on Tuesday night and, consequently, set up one heck of a game on Thursday.
While Moses Lake rolled to a 47-point second half and won at Richland 70-51, Pasco took care of Walla Walla on its home court 49-41. That means Thursday's Columbia Basin League regular-season finale at Chief Gym is for all the marbles, with both teams at 10-1 in league.
"It should be a nice crowd for us," Chiefs head coach Matt Strophy said. "The girls are really looking forward to it."
Moses Lake (16-4 overall) didn't have its usual firepower in the first half against Richland, leading 24-18 at the break. But the Chiefs caught fire in the final 16 minutes. They hit all six of their free throws in the fourth quarter, and key 3-pointers from Lorin Montgomery and Kelly Sutherland helped seal the deal.
Carly Noyes led the Chiefs with 27 points and big sister Ann Noyes scored 16 points. Sutherland and Montgomery added nine and eight, respectively. Jamie Arthurs led the Bombers with 14.
Royal 65, Warden 49
ROYAL CITY - The Knights picked up a big win in South Central Athletic Conference East Division action, burying the visiting Cougars over the second and third quarters.
After the first quarter finished with a 10-10 tie, Royal (9-9 overall, 5-6 league) went on a 23-10 run to close the half. That spelled doom for Warden (5-14, 3-8), which must win Thursday at River View to have any chance of reaching the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Lady Knights can clinch the East's No. 4 seed to districts by knocking off Kiona-Benton at home on Thursday. Both games start at 6 p.m.
Tawnee Gonzales and Kelcy Jansen led the Knights with 16 points apiece, with Gonzales collecting seven rebounds, three steals and three assists, and Jansen adding six steals. Leslie Brown also had a big night, scoring 15 points to go along with 10 boards, four steals and three assists.
"We rebounded well, so I was happy with that," Royal head coach Maria Lefler said.
The Cougars got 14 points from Kelsey Garner and 10 from Kim McPartland in defeat.
Lind-Ritzville 43, Selkirk 27
SPOKANE - The Lady Broncos will play for the top seed to regionals, holding the Rangers to no more than eight points in any quarter in their Northeast 2B district playoff matchup.
Lind-Ritzville (17-3 overall) matches up with perennial power St. George's (18-2) on Thursday, a 5 p.m. start at Spokane Falls Community College.
The Broncos led 24-16 at halftime and cemented the win with a 15-6 third-quarter spurt. Katlin Fowles led the offensive attack with 10 points, while Danielle Sackmann and Stephany Steinberger each scored six.
Royal 57, Warden 31
ROYAL CITY - After a low-scoring opening quarter, the Knights tore through the Cougars and picked up a much-needed SCAC East win.
"They pretty much controlled the game," Warden head coach Wes Richins said. "It was a pretty sluggish first quarter for both teams…and then they had a big second quarter."
Royal (5-11 overall, 3-8 league) went on a 20-5 spurt in the second quarter that proved to be the difference. The Knights are now tied for the fifth and final playoff spot with Wahluke, and could win it outright by beating Kiona-Benton at home on Thursday, a 7:30 p.m. start.
If Wahluke and Royal finished tied, a playoff would take place on Friday at a yet-to-be-determined site.
"Hopefully we just win on Thursday and take care of business," Knights head coach Jason Bafus said.
Michael Hebdon paced Royal with 18 points, while DJ Solis scored 10 and Marc Albertson added nine. Kevin Whitaker led Warden (1-18, 0-11) with 10 points and Erik Montejano had eight. The Cougars finish the season on Thursday at River View, a 7:30 p.m. start.
Odessa 46, Curlew 40
SPOKANE - The Tigers used a 12-6 run in the second quarter to win their Northeast 1B contest with the Cougars and move within one win of a state tournament berth.
Odessa (10-9 overall) got 13 points from Luke Palmer, 10 from Travis Todd, eight from James Glenn and seven from Bryce Todd in the victory.
The Tigers will face the Cusick Panthers (16-5) for the district title on Friday. The game is a 5 p.m. start at Deer Park High School. The winner is the top seed to state, while the loser plays for the No. 2 seed on Saturday, also a 5 p.m. start at Deer Park.