Better season still ends too soon for Chiefs

WALLA WALLA - Despite taking a long and rosier path toward

basketball improvement, in the end the Moses Lake Chiefs basketball

team couldn't get over the wall or specifically, Walla Walla.

For the third time this season, the Chiefs fell to the Blue Devils,

except that Friday's outing was win or go home.

Walla Walla 49, MOSES LAKE 34

WALLA WALLA - Despite taking a long and rosier path toward basketball improvement, in the end the Moses Lake Chiefs basketball team couldn't get over the wall or specifically, Walla Walla.

For the third time this season, the Chiefs fell to the Blue Devils, except that Friday's outing was win or go home.

The Chiefs are now home for good.

After battling to a tough, grind-it-out, 20-15 first half deficit, the Chiefs' offense continued to struggle while Walla Walla found just enough to cruise to a 49-34 Big 9 district playoff, loser out contest.

Moses Lake (7-14) was outscored 14-7 in the fourth quarter as the Blue Devils advanced on.

"It was one of those games where we just couldn't put the pieces of the puzzle in place," Moses Lake head coach John Hohman said. "We didn't shoot well from the field - 31 percent.  Defensively we had a difficult time in the second half stopping them."

Moses Lake were still in striking range late but gambling play led to easy baskets and free throws for Walla Walla.

Moses Lake was led by Matt Franz's 14 points and Bryce Perez's nine points and 10 rebounds.

"The hardest thing though, as a coach, is when you lose in a loser out game," Hohman said. "You have to walk into the locker room knowing this is the last time you will coach some of these young men.  This group of young men have been some of the finest I have coached and that is a testimony to the way their parents have raised them.  I am just so proud of them and the type of effort they gave me this season.  I really feel fortunate to have been able to coach this team."