PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: ML CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 80, THORP 23

MOSES LAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 80

Thorp 23

THORP - It took awhile for the Moses Lake Christian Academy Lions to get their game going on Friday night against hosts Thorp.

Leading 20-11 after the first quarter, the Lions' saw their offense play well but their defense needed to step up.

Over the next three quarters their defensive steps were in Sasquatch mode - big ones.

The Lions (8-4, 4-0) would hold Thorp to 12 points throughout the rest of the game and roll to a dominating 80-23 win to remain unbeaten in North Central Washington 1B play.

"We played well as a team this was a total team effort," Lions head coach Duke Wood said. "I think our pressure we put on them from the second quarter on really helped us get out and run and get some easy baskets.  We forced 31 turnovers in the game which was the difference."

The Lions committed only eight turnovers themselves and that also played a part in their 21-4 second quarter as they built a 41-15 halftime lead.

A 27-4 quarter after halftime blew the game wide open and made the bus ride home that much more enjoyable.

Joe Timofeyev led the Academy with 21 points, seven steals, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Also pitching in were Nic Hocking with 12 points and nine rebounds, Isaac Murrell who finished with 10 points and four steals, Conner Webb and his triple five in points, assists, and steals, and Lowell Kirkwood who ended the night with 10 points.

"We have a big week this week with three away games," Wood said. "These are all League games which will start lying down the groundwork for the district tournament next month.  We just need to take care of ourselves and do what we do best and the rest will fall into place."