Young Lions pound their way to title game

MOSES LAKE — It is a process, this growing up thing.

For the Moses Lake Christian Academy girls basketball team the problem is they have to grow while other teams stand in their way.

On Monday night the Lions took a different approach against Bridgeport in the semifinal of the Moses Lake Christian Academy Christmas Tournament at the Lions Den.

Pounding the ball inside at will, the Lions romped to a 49-28 win over Bridgeport, behind the youthful duo of freshman Rachel Verhage and eighth-graders Susan Timofeyev.

The Lions play Tri Cities Prep at 6 p.m. for the tournament championship.

Verhage scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half as Moses Lake Christian Academy (2-2) went early and often to the post as they built a 12-6 first quarter lead.

“Rachel is a talented player for us and has a lot of potential,” Lions coach Bryce McPartland said. “She has come a long way this year. When the ball gets to her she has no panic and she works to make a move and do what she’s taught to do.”

Verhage and Timofeyev combined to build the lead up to 18-6 before settling for a 25-13 halftime lead.

Timofeyev scored 14 points to lead all scorers.

“We made a conscious decision as a staff before the game that we were going to look at the middle,” McPartland said. “Our girls had worked hard over these last two weeks in practice and we were going to get the ball into the post.”

Both teams played evenly in the third quarter with the hosts bumped their lead up to 35-22 with eight minutes to play.

Timofeyev scored eight of her points in the final quarter and the Lions put a wrap on the contest with a dominating fourth quarter.

“It’s something we talked about at halftime which is finishing the game,” McPartland said. “We didn’t do a good job against Odessa and we lost the lead against Wilson Creek. So we told them to stop smiling because if they play a second 16 minutes worse than the first 16 minutes then it doesn’t matter since you let the other team back in the game.”

With that lesson learned the Lions now get a chance to see if they can keep their momentum in tonight’s final.

“It took us until February last year to get to .500 so we’re ahead of schedule,” McPartland said. “Tonight we started two freshmen and an 8th-grader and they’re still getting their feet wet. The more they get acclimated they will be as tough as anyone at this level.”

Tri-Cities Prep 47, Warden 25

The opening semifinal of the Moses Lake Christian Academy Lions’ Christmas girls tournament saw the Warden Cougars fall behind big early and despite some defensive improvements lose to Tri Cities Prep 47-25 on Monday.

Tri Cities Prep took an 18-7 lead after one quarter of play.

“We made an adjustment on defense in the second quarter which held them to nine but then we still can’t score,” Warden coach Todd Kisler said. “Our confidence level doesn’t carry from defense to offense. We make a great stop or hold them to one shot but then we turn the ball over or miss a shot.”

Warden trailed 27-11 at the half.

Both teams committed numerous turnovers —Warden’s 30 to Tri City Prep’s 26 — but in the end it came down to a difference in their respective shooting eyes.

“We missed some open outside shots and a lot of easy inside shots,” Kisler said. “We also didn’t shoot well from the free-throw line either by going five-for-19.”

The Cougars’ (0-8) offense has also been hurt by the loss of point guard Lindsay Cole who has been battling an injury. She may return tonight for the consolation final but may have to miss more games, Kisler said.

Freshman Haley Yamane led the Cougars with eight points while Kacey Kisler added seven points and 10 rebounds.

Emma Bisnett chipped in with eight rebounds for Warden.

Johanna Roach led Tri Cities Prep with 18 points.

“We’re taking baby steps and slowing getting better,” Todd Kisler said. “I just want a bigger step since we are halfway through the season. But, we are improving especially on defense. We just need to score more points to improve our confidence.”

Warden plays Bridgeport today at 3 p.m. in the tournament’s consolation bracket final.