MLCA boys basketball beats Mansfield

MOSES LAKE - Thomas Knopp knocked down 16 points and hauled in 16 rebounds to lead the Moses Lake Christian Academy (MLCA) boys basketball team to a 57-41 win over Mansfield last night.

"This was a difficult game for us," coach Duke Wood said. "Everything was kinda out of our routine from every other game we have."

The Lions played at 6:30 instead of the customary 7:30 p.m. start, and that put a kink in the start of the contest as the team looked out of sync.

"We had a difficult time getting started," Wood said. "I just was waiting, hoping, that after halftime, we could find our intensity and offense that was so invisible the whole first half."

The Kernels led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Lions came back to grab the lead and go up 26-20 at intermission.

MLCA got a little breathing room at the end of the third quarter as the team led 37-31. But the last eight minutes of action saw the Lions offense get on track as MLCA outscored Mansfield 20-10 to win going away.

"We finally stepped up defensively and finished at the basket on the offensive end in the fourth quarter," Wood said. "This was a great game to play and to learn from as a player and a coach.  We will grow from this win and it will only make us better in the long run."

Joe Timofeyev added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, Lowell Kirkwood had 10 points, seven boards, Alex Allsbrook contributed seven points and 12 rebounds, and Connor Webb finished with nine points and seven boards in the winning effort.

MLCA is back in action Friday when the team travels to Thorp to take on the Tigers.