Moses Lake girls drop two games

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake High School girls basketball team lost back-to-back games over the weekend, falling to 43-28 to Chiawana on the road Friday, and 44-39 at home Saturday against Walla Walla.

The losses land the Chiefs at the bottom of the CBBN standings at 0-2, and 1-7 overall.

"I thought we played an excellent game against  Walla Walla" coach Mat Strophy said. "We were able to execute our defensive game plan in the first half, but unfortunately we had too many turnovers and had to dig ourselves out of a hole because we didn't shoot well from the free throw line and had trouble putting back second shot opportunities."

A packed crowd was on hand to see the Chiefs take on Walla Walla. The Blue Devils set the pace early and forced Moses Lake in to some early mistakes that translated into easy baskets for the visiting team.

Walla Walla jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but the Chiefs Emily Olson got things going for Moses Lake to get the team within 6-5 at the end of the first quarter of play.

Olson knocked down the first bucket of the second quarter to give the Chiefs a brief 7-6 lead, but the Blue Devils answered back with a 14-3 run mid-way through the second eight minutes of play to put Walla Walla up 22-10 at the break.

The second half of the game started out much like the first half ended with Walla Walla stretching its lead to 35-21 to go up by 14 at the end of the third quarter. The Chiefs made a run in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Blue Devils 18-9, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit as Moses Lake lost by four points, 44-39.

"We were down big in the third quarter, but came back to make a game of it," Strophy said. "But we made too many mental mistakes and they were able to capitalize on them. We've lost our first two game and are on the outside looking in right now, but once we hit our stride, people won't want to play us. Especially in the postseason."

Emily Olson led the charge for Moses Lake with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Chiawana 43

Moses Lake 28

The Chiefs traveled to Pasco Friday looking for a much needed win on the road, but were sent home with a disappointing 43-28 loss to the Riverhawks.

Strophy said the game was closer than the final score indicated.

"It's really is misleading," he said. "If we put back some of the missed baskets, hit some key free throws down the stretch, and take advantage of our second chance opportunities, the outcome could've have turned in our favor."

The Chiefs are back in action Wednesday when the take on Eastmont at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.