Elimination game next in Chiefs' playoff journey

MOSES LAKE  — It is now a win or go home scenario for the Moses Lake High School Chiefs girls basketball team.

Following their 54-37 loss at Walla Walla on Saturday in their district playoffs opener, the Chiefs (10-11) were faced with the reality that their loser out consolation semifinal tonight against Eisenhower meant all or nothing.

“The players and coaches feel confident going into our game against Eisenhower,” Chiefs coach Matt Strophy said. “We all believe in ourselves and our abilities. We may struggle at times, but we know our potential. Since the end of December, we have not lost two in a row.”

Strophy illustrated his team’s season-long ability to bounce back with big wins after tough loses but in order to do so against Eisenhower (9-12) they would have be more consistent.

They also will need to take advantage of the return of 6-5 junior post player Kayla Bernsen.

“Of course she will make a difference for us,” Strophy said. “I don’t know if she would have been a 17-point difference against Walla Walla, but I definitely believe she will help us beat Ike. We knew for a long time that she wouldn’t be with us last Saturday, but that we’d have her back for the rest of the playoffs.”

In his earlier years as Moses Lake, coach Strophy was recipient of some big defeats at the hands of Yakima but the tide has changed in recent seasons until a loss to them in December back in Yakima.

“They had a lull in talent right when we got an influx of ours, so the tides turned over the last few years,” Strophy said. “We made a late run at them, but ran out of time and they beat us by a couple. We are much more seasoned and improved than that game, and although they have improved as well, we had more room to grow. So I think we will be the better team Tuesday night, especially with the game being at home.”

Strophy notes Eisenhower’s experience and the post presence of Jessica Bush.

“They have the guards to shoot the ball too in Sydney Franck and Jessica VanAlstine, along with point guard Brittany Gaut,” Strophy said. “They are well-balanced on offense and solid on defense. The guards are quick and can pressure people into turnovers, and having the strength of Bush inside really helps them too. They remind me a little of us with their style of play. They can run the floor in transition, but they also can execute in the half court too. This will be a good game match-up wise.”

Now all Strophy needs is his skittish offensive attack to get its ducks-in-a-row to ensure they live to see another game.

“We have addressed our lack of offensive intensity by talking about executing our offense better than we have been,” Strophy said. “When we execute, the shots we get and take are much more in rhythm, than when we don’t execute. Playing in rhythm increases our shooting percentage and confidence immensely. In a nutshell, we must execute our offensive system, and that will give us the confidence to knock down our shots.

“Confidence is infectious too. When one person is feeling it, then the rest of the team feels it too,” Strophy said.