Tigers claw Red Devils
Ephrata's Jon Buchanan (20) goes up for two of his 10 points during the first quarter of Friday's win over East Valley. Photo by Miles Douglass/Columbia Basin Herald
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers boys basketball team got back on track Friday night when they hosted the East Valley Red Devils in Central Washington Athletic Conference action.
Despite getting off to a slow start Friday night, the Tigers pulled together in the second quarter to route the visiting Red Devils 76-53 to earn the CWAC victory.
Ephrata improved to 7-9 in CWAC play and 8-10 overall and moved into a tie with Prosser for eighth place in the conference. East Valley fell to 1-15 in CWAC play and 1-17 overall.
The Tigers struggled to put the game away early as the Red Devils managed to keep the game close through the first quarter. East Valley kept up the tempo in the first quarter and managed to take a 17-15 lead on the road.
Ephrata picked up the pace in the second quarter, closing out the first half on a 24-10 run to take a 39-27 lead into the break.
The Tigers continued to pour it on East Valley in the third quarter when Ephrata pushed a 39-27 halftime lead into a 54-38 lead at the end of the third quarter.
With the game in hand, the Tigers continued to pour it on late to close out East Valley with a 22-point fourth quarter and a 76-53 win.
Ross Buchert led the Tigers with 20 points and Bryce Todd and Eric Tinnell each added 11 points in the Ephrata victory.