Moses Lake girls hammer Wenatchee

Prep sports recaps

MOSES LAKE - Some teams might overlook a lesser opponent when a big game is just over the horizon.

Not the Moses Lake girls basketball team.

The Chiefs blitzed the Wenatchee Panthers 76-37 on Tuesday, a good tune-up for Friday's home meeting with the Walla Walla Blue Devils, another favorite for the Columbia Basin League title.

"We had a little slow third quarter, but other than that it was pretty good," Chiefs head coach Matt Strophy said.

Moses Lake began the game with a 23-7 run and eventually led 45-14 at halftime. The Chiefs got balanced scoring from their starters - Carly Noyes and Jordan Loera tied for the team high with 16 points and Kelly Sutherland added 14 - and a nice contribution off their bench. Alexis Ballinger, Kayde Williamson and Vanessa Brischle - in her first game back from a knee injury - combined for 17 points.

One concern for Strophy was how his girls defended Wenatchee star Dani Hallberg, who scored 15 points. Moses Lake defended her well down low, but lost track of her on the perimeter, where she nailed four 3-pointers.

"I was a little frustrated with the fact that we left her open at times," Strophy said. "We need to clean that up a little bit, especially playing Walla Walla on Friday night. They have a couple girls who can hit the outside shot."

The Chiefs (11-3 overall, 5-0 CBL) enter Friday's showdown a game up on Walla Walla and Pasco for first place. The teams were originally scheduled to meet in Walla Walla on Jan. 4, but that game was moved to next Tuesday. That means the Chiefs get the home-court advantage first against a Blue Devils team that also brings a lot of energy.

"That's always an advantage for us," Strophy said. "It's going to be a big one. They're a lot like us. They don't have the height necessarily, but their style of play will be a good matchup for us."

Lind-Ritzville 55, Davenport 14

LIND - The Lady Broncos routed the visiting Gorillas in Bi-County League action, meaning Lind-Ritzville will be seeded no worse than second for the upcoming district playoffs.

Devon Killian had a game-high 13 points and Katlin Fowles added 10 for the Broncos (15-3 overall, 12-2 league). Kelsey Arlt added eight points and three players - Cassie Cole, Emmy Bouwman and Laura Cain - each scored six.

Lind-Ritzville has two games remaining on the regular-season slate - Friday at Liberty and next Tuesday at home against league-leading Northwest Christian. Both games begin at 6 p.m.

Northwest Christian 55, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 31

HARTLINE - The visiting Crusaders all but sewed up the Bi-County League title, routing the Lady Warriors (8-10 overall, 3-9 league).

Northwest Christian jumped to a 14-9 lead after one quarter, though ACH trailed by only eight - 23-15 - at the half. The Crusaders went on an 18-11 third-quarter spurt to regain control and allowed no Warrior to reach double-digit points.

Megan Osborne led ACH with seven points, Nikki Osborne had six, and Alyssa Bodeau and Sarah Gloyn chipped in five apiece.

ACH travels to Odessa on Friday at 6 p.m.

Wilbur-Creston 51, Odessa 30

CRESTON - The Lady Tigers lost their 11th straight game, falling in a Bi-County League clash with the host Wildcats.

Odessa (3-13 overall, 1-12 league) got a team-high 11 points from Jordan Frederick and seven from Mariah Davison, but never got going offensively until a 15-point fourth quarter. The Wildcats led 14-4 after one quarter and 33-11 at halftime.

The Tigers host ACH on Friday at 6 p.m.

Boys basketball

Wenatchee 63, Moses Lake 50

WENATCHEE - The Chiefs trimmed their deficit to six points in the third and fourth quarters, but couldn't catch the Panthers and remained winless in CBL play.

"It was a close game most of the way and then they just gradually pulled way," Moses Lake head coach Rolland Hansen said.

Josh Loera paced the Chiefs with 15 points, Michael Olaniyan had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Jarred Walker added nine points. The Chiefs led 14-3 after one quarter before Wenatchee closed the half on a 16-8 spurt.

Wenatchee's Seth Tagge led all scorers with 20 points and Austin Bryan added 18. The Panthers had a 33-28 edge in rebounds and hit 11 of their 17 free throws, compared to 4 of 5 for Moses Lake.

The Chiefs are on the road again Friday, playing Walla Walla at 7:30 p.m.

Lind-Ritzville 66, Davenport 63

LIND - It was a struggle at times for the Broncos, who are trying to catch Reardan for the Bi-County League's No. 2 spot.

Lind-Ritzville (15-3 overall, 11-3 league) trailed 32-25 at intermission and 49-45 after three quarters, but closed on a 21-14 run to down the visiting Gorillas (8-9, 5-8).

Cory Whitmore led the Broncos with 20 points. Shane Olson (19 points) and Jamie Stevenson (15 points) also had huge games, with Matt Saetre chipping in eight points.

Lind-Ritzville plays a 7:30 p.m. contest at Liberty on Friday before closing the regular season next Tuesday at league-leading Northwest Christian.

Northwest Christian 87, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 34

HARTLINE - The Crusaders, who've lost just once in 17 games, made short work of the Warriors, rolling to a 45-17 halftime lead and maintaining a two-game edge for first in the Bi-County League.

ACH (5-12 overall, 4-9 league) was held in single digits for each of the first three periods. Kyle Tucker had 11 points for the Warriors, the only man with more than six.

The Warriors play at Odessa on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Wilbur-Creston 61, Odessa 60

CRESTON - The Bi-County League game of the night was turned in by the Tigers and Wildcats, who exchanged leads up until the final moments.

Odessa (8-8, 5-8) led 11-8 after one quarter and took a 41-39 edge into the fourth quarter but couldn't survive. Wilbur-Creston (9-8, 7-7) staved off the Tigers in the race for fourth place.

The Tigers got 27 points from Travis Todd and 11 from James Glenn in defeat. They'll host rival Almira/Coulee-Hartline on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Royal 41, Warden 16

ROYAL CITY - The Knights earned the South Central Athletic Conference East Division title in convincing fashion, winning the first 10 weight classes.

Angel Ledezma started Royal's demolition with a 5-4 decision over Arturo Martinez at 152 pounds. Sam Villegas (160) earned a 17-2 technical fall over Jose Gonzales and Mitch Christensen (171) got a 12-3 major decision over Dakota Scott.

Hector Ledezma (189) picked up a 9-2 decision over Isaac DeLeon. T.J. Hunt (215) earned four team points with a 17-9 win over Joey Massa and Edgar Montoya (285) did likewise, downing Tony Martinez 12-4.

Hank Ellis (103) survived an overtime thriller with Carlos Gomez, winning 4-2, while Ethan Tonnemaker (112) took just 36 seconds to pin Jonny Guerra. Hernan Cortez (119) pinned Alex Rangel at 5:24, and Juan Esquivel (125) finished the 10-match streak with a 16-8 major decision over Jesse Guerra.

The Cougars won the final four bouts, starting with Robert Pruneda's pin of Chencho Lopez at 1:26 of the 130-pound match. Josh Reyes (135) beat Leo Acevedo 11-9, Kameron Tamayo (140) had a 17-2 technical fall over Roman Trujillo, and Lupe Landeros (145) downed Luke Tonnemaker 8-6.

Warden hosts Wahluke in its final SCAC East dual on Thursday at 7 p.m. Royal will take time off before the district tournament begins Feb. 2 at Warden.

Quincy 40, Toppenish 33

QUINCY - The Jackrabbits clinched second place in the Central Washington Athletic Conference standings, using two late forfeits to rally past the Wildcats.

Toppenish won five of the first seven bouts to take a 27-9 lead. Quincy's only wins during that stretch came from 125-pounder Armando Herrera, who pinned Isaac Gutierrez in 22 seconds, and 135-pounder Dan Somers, a 9-2 winner over Gilbert Godinez.

But the Jacks went on a tear, starting with 152-pounder Colby Melburn's 11-2 major decision over Robert Torres. Breck Webley (160) pinned Ricardo Ayala at 1:31 and Baldo Valdovinos (171) pinned Ramon Rodriguez at 1:28.

Michael Reyes (189) gave Quincy a 28-27 lead with a 7-6 defeat of Aaron Ochoa. Max Melburn (215) and Lionel Barajas (285) followed with forfeit wins, rendering Johnny Navarro's 103-pound loss inconsequential.

At 112, Quincy's Tony Lee lost to Isaiah Garza at 1:22. At 119, Carlos Magana was pinned by Julian Romero at 5:07. At 130, Manny Ybarra dropped an 11-6 decision to Rafael Osorio.

Toppenish's Miguel Montiel (140) pinned Ben Horning at 4:44 and teammate Ryan Rebellosa (145) did the same to Edgar Rivera at 1:05.

Quincy hosts East Valley in its final CWAC dual on Thursday, a 7 p.m. start.

Othello 45, East Valley 32

OTHELLO - The Huskies scored the final 22 points, rallying to defeat the Red Devils in a CWAC dual at P.J. Taggares Gymnasium.

Othello's Reuben Lopez (130) started the crucial four-match stretch with a forfeit win and Chris Gifford (135) outdueled Jimmy Wilson 8-6. Eddie Garza (140) pinned Doug Chartier at 5:58, and Amando DeLeon (145) pinned Andre Uribe at 3:35.

East Valley's Tim Logozzo led off the meet with an 11-6 win over Tyson Alvarez at 152 pounds. Othello's Kevin Smith (160) pinned Juan Ibanez at 1:39, but the Red Devils' Cameron Rainsford (171) started a three-match win streak with a 20-5 technical fall over Sage Hines.

Othello's Jusdin Lynch (189) was pinned at 2:53 by Jakob Moser and Eddie Morales was pinned at 57 seconds by Nick Brindamour.

Huskie heavyweight Michael Carmona got things back on track with a pin of Joey Sparks at 1:50, Jake Smith (112) won by forfeit, and Matt Jordan (119) pinned Jordan Vanderhoof at 46 seconds.

East Valley's Konnor Hopkins took just 16 seconds to pin Colten Rodriguez at 103 pounds, while teammate Mason Yates pinned Nicoh Montemayor at 2:46.

The Huskies finish the CWAC dual schedule on Thursday at Grandview, a 7 p.m. start.