One for the history books

Chiefs earn first undisputed league title with convincing win over Pasco

MOSES LAKE - Before this season began, the Moses Lake girls basketball team set out to make some history.

Mission accomplished.

The Chiefs won the program's first outright league championship on Thursday, using a stifling defense and timely offense to pull away from the Pasco Bulldogs for a 43-24 victory.

Moses Lake and Pasco entered the night with identical 10-1 marks in Columbia Basin League action, but the Chiefs left the floor with a regular-season sweep of the Bulldogs, and both wins looked rather easy.

"It's really nice," Chiefs head coach Matt Strophy said. "It just shows how much hard work, dedication and effort the girls put towards all the things that they do in practice."

After Pasco rattled off the game's first five points, it was all Chiefs. Moses Lake scored the final 12 points of the first quarter and never trailed again. Carly Noyes' putback basket put the Chiefs in front, and Jordan Loera hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down for a seven-point margin.

Pasco (17-3 overall) buckled down in the second period and scored the last four points, pulling within 20-15 at halftime on Lisa Middleton's fast-break layup. It was the last time the Bulldogs were within striking distance.

Moses Lake (16-4) began the second half with an 8-0 spurt. Loera hit a pair of treys, and Ann Noyes drained a 15-foot baseline jumper to make it 35-19 after three quarters. Loera's steal and twisting score put the Chiefs up by 20 early in the fourth, and the celebration was on.

"She had a great game - she controlled everything," Strophy said of Loera, who scored a game-high 17 points.

"That was a really great effort," senior forward Ann Noyes said of her freshman teammate. "She had so much pressure on her by the Pasco guards, and she just did a great job getting the ball upcourt."

Playing her final regular-season contest in front of the home fans, Ann Noyes was just as key to the win. She finished with 12 points, most of them on baseline jumpers taken when the Pasco defense overextended itself on the other Chiefs. She also made up for a tough night for younger sister Carly Noyes, who fouled out with only six points.

"That's one of my favorite shots, so I was just happy it was going in," she said. "The guards did a good job of looking down low when they were being guarded."

"She has been pretty consistent from that 8 to 15 foot range," Strophy said of Noyes. "Sure, she's not averaging 20 points like Carly might be doing but…if they want to leave her open, go right ahead. She will take advantage."

The Chiefs were the league's co-champions with Pasco last year, but entering this season with such hype almost demanded the program's first outright title. The players didn't show much pressure as the crown came within reach, though they did lose their perfect record with a recent loss to Walla Walla.

"We are all so pumped. It made it the most perfect Senior Night ever," Ann Noyes said. "From the very beginning our goal has been to be league champs. After that loss to Walla Walla, we really wanted to come back after it and not let Pasco have a chance to get back in it."

Even with a big lead in the fourth quarter, Strophy didn't relax - and he didn't let his girls either. Two years ago, the Chiefs led the Bulldogs by 10 points in the final period, only to watch Pasco nail five 3-pointers and a steal a win.

"We were preaching at that timeout I took with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the fourth, 'We've got to cover their shooters,'" Strophy said.

Moses Lake is already assured of a regional playoff spot, even if it were to lose twice at districts. The Chiefs don't play again until next Friday, when they host either Richland or Wenatchee. Four teams move on to regionals against the Greater Spokane League.

Strophy feels this year's group has a definite advantage over last year's that came up one win short of a state tournament spot.

"That tournament over Christmas break has really prepped us, as well as being in the district and regional tournament last year," he said. "Now we have that experience, whereas last year we didn't."