Back-and-forth game sees Chiefs fall in OT

by Alan Dale & Herald Sports Writer
| December 21, 2010 5:00 AM

MOSES LAKE - They had a shot, then didn't, all of a sudden to have a chance again, before it all went kaput.

For the Moses Lake Chiefs boys basketball team, their Saturday night clash with Walla Walla was not the ideal game for someone who like their action to be consistent and predictable.

Both teams traded leads, proverbial punches, and key shots, before Walla Walla would escape with a 65-54 overtime win that keep the Chiefs (3-5, 0-2) winless in Big 9 play.

"The guys came out a little flat but recovered and finished the first half ahead," Moses Lake head coach John Hohman said. "We came out the second half and played an even third quarter but by the end we were up and we just couldn't close it."

Walla Walla led 12-10 after one quarter but Moses Lake responded with one of their better, if not their best, second quarter to take a 24-18 lead.

The previous evening, the Chiefs were done in by a poor second quarter in their loss to Chiawana.

In the third quarter Moses Lake held tight to the lead, keeping a 34-29 edge heading into the final eight minutes.

There, Walla Walla would make a big push and behind some key three-point shooting would take a 49-46 lead with less than five seconds to go.

But, then Chiefs' senior Kyler Moats decided he was in the mood to play a little bit more.

Moats got a pass at halfcourt, dribbled a couple times and put up a three-pointer that was well beyond the arc, and drained it, sending the game into overtime at 49-49.

In the overtime period Walla Walla asserted itself and reclaimed the dominance it showed in the game's last four minutes to pull away.

"In the overtime we really came out impatient which was my fault," Hohman said. "I need to make sure these guys to be composed so they can come down and get a good possession when the game is on the line and control the game."

Moses Lake was led by Matt Franz and Moats, who each finished with 12 points.

Walla Walla outrebounded the Chiefs 40-28 and hit 44 percent of their shots compared to only 37 percent by Moses Lake.