Chiefs, Pasco to play for Big Nine title

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Despite a slow start in the Columbia Basin Big Nine district semifinals, the Moses Lake girls basketball team found their rhythm late to rout Walla Walla 50-35.

The Chiefs and Blue Devils fought back-and-fourth through the first 12 minutes Tuesday night before Walla Walla pulled away to take a 29-22 lead into the half.

Moses Lake head coach Matt Strophy said his team struggled in the final 4 minutes of the first half.

“It was pretty even through the first quarter and a half,” he said. “We were up two with 4 minutes left when Jordan (Loera) picked up her second foul.”

Strohpy said it is his basketball philosophy to pull a player if they pick up their second foul in the second quarter.

With Loera on the bench, the Blue Devils forced five turnovers in the final minutes of the half to go on a 9-0 run heading into the break.

Walla Walla’s Hope Klicker led the Blue Devils in the first half with 22 of her game-leading 25 points and Strophy said his team struggled defensively to start the game.

“We didn’t play defense like we should have,” he said. “(Klicker) hit five (3-point shots) in the first half.”

Although the Blue Devils took the momentum into the locker room, the Chiefs took it back to start the third quarter.

Moses Lake made adjustments during the half and it showed on the court, Strophy said.

“We switched up our match ups,” he said. “We put Jordan on Klicker and she held her to three points in the second half.”

The adjustments worked and the Chiefs opened up the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 30-29 lead on the road.

Moses Lake continued to battle with Walla Walla in the third quarter before the Blue Devils reclaimed the lead heading into the fourth quarter with a 35-33 advantage.

Despite trailing heading into the fourth quarter, the final 8 minutes were all Moses Lake — literally.

The Chiefs closed out the game on a 17-0 run to hold the Blue Devils scoreless in the fourth quarter to earn the district semifinal victory.

Moses Lake will travel to Pasco Friday night to take on the Bulldogs for the district championship.

With the win over Walla Walla, the Chiefs clinched a home game in the first round of the regional tournament Tuesday night.

Moses Lake’s opponent will be decided Saturday.