GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL: MOSES LAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 65, Thorp 11
MLCA seniors Melissa Verhage (33) and Kristina Firouzi (5) were honored on Senior Night on Friday evening before the Lady Lions rolled to a 72-10 win over Columbia Basin Secondary.
THORP - The Moses Lake Christian Academy Lady Lions completed an
unbeaten North Central Washington 1B league campaign with a 65-11
victory at Thorp on Saturday.
THORP - The Moses Lake Christian Academy Lady Lions completed an unbeaten North Central Washington 1B league campaign with a 65-11 victory at Thorp on Saturday.
Prior to that, the Academy (17-3, 10-0) put a nice bow on the package of the home careers of Melissa Verhage and Kristina Firouzi in Friday's Senior Night festivities for the two.
The Lady Lions defeated Columbia Basin Secondary School 72-10.
"Being that this was the last home game for the seniors, it's really about them -Melissa and Kristina," Academy head coach Bryce McPartland said. "They are winners, plain and simple. They've had success in volleyball. They've had success in basketball. They're just great kids who battle."
The winless Phoenix tried to do their best to fight as well but couldn't overcome the Lady Lions' size and strength, trailing 43-4 at halftime.
Firouzi led the Lady Lions with 21 points, which included five three-pointers, while Verhage added 12 points as sophomore Madison Yamane chipped in 15 points.
McKenna Walker added 12 points and Rachel Verhage scored 10 points.
Rachel Verhage added nine rebounds while Yamane collected seven. Abby Garrett led the Academy with six assists, while Walker and Firouzi each finished with seven steals apiece.
In the end the night was about the elder Verhage and Firouzi.
"Both of them have had innumerable reasons to quit or take an easy way out," McPartland said. "Both of them, without fail, refused. Whether they did it because of their own internal sense of pride, their love of each other, or whatever, they have not only participated, but excelled when most people, perhaps even people closest to them, were no doubt asking them, 'Why bother?'
"They're incredible and although we have a ways to go yet, this is a chapter that is reaching its conclusion," the Lady Lions coach added. "I am going to miss both of these girls."
Columbia Basin Secondary stats were not made available.
Against Thorp, Walker led the team with 19 points while Firouzi added 15 points, Yamane pumped in 13 points and Melissa Verhage contributed 10 points.
The Lady Lions led 19-0 after the first quarter and never looked back.
Today, the Academy battles Cascade Christian in a distinct tournament first round game at Kittitas High School starting 4 p.m.