Tough weekend endured by Chiefs in Big 9 losses

by Alan Dale<br> Herald Sports Writer
| January 25, 2011 5:00 AM

WALLA WALLA - For a team showing signs of progress, the past

weekend was not any of the better ones for the Moses Lake Chiefs

boys basketball team.

Walla Walla 61, MOSES LAKE 46

WALLA WALLA - For a team showing signs of progress, the past weekend was not any of the better ones for the Moses Lake Chiefs boys basketball team.

The Chiefs dropped two key Big 9 match ups, losing 61-46 at Walla Walla on Saturday night, following up a 61-43 home loss to visiting Chiawana the night before.

"The Chiawana game was tough playing kids in positions they hadn't spent alot of time in due to having Matt Franz out," Moses Lake head coach John Hohman said of his injured leading scorer. "I thought the kids played better in the second half, but Chiawana is a very good team, athletic and very physical."

Moses Lake struggled with ball preservation, turning the ball over 17 times, and they struggled from the field, shooting only 36 percent.

On the flip side, Chiawana actually shot worse - 33 percent - but hit six more three-point shots for a difference of 18 points.

Matt Adame led Moses Lake with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Kyler Moats added seven assists to lead the Chiefs in that category.

On Saturday, the host Blue Devils, who beat Moses Lake earlier this year via a road, overtime, win, didn't need to go the extra mile in the rematch.

Walla Walla built a 37-20 lead by halftime and would go into cruise control mode the rest of the game.

"Walla Walla was just an off night for us as we flat out weren't ready to play," Hohman said. "We shot ourselves into a big hole the first half that we couldn't dig out of. Our shot selection was very poor and I didn't think we played within our system."

The Chiefs shot 29 percent from the field compared to Walla Walla's 49 percent and again were heavily outscored from beyond the arc - 21-3.

Moses Lake did count down its turnovers, committing only eight.

Franz did return against Walla Walla and led the Chiefs with 16 points.

"I know the guys were very disappointed with the game and how they performed," Hohman said. "So now it is up to us to control our destiny from here on out."