Chiefs basketball loses to Wenatchee and Richland
The Chiefs Easton Baker's hook shot is just wide of its mark during second quarter action against the Bombers Saturday.
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Chiefs boys basketball team lost two ball games over the weekend; at home Saturday to Richland 68-56 and on the road Friday to Wenatchee 59-58.
The losses drops Moses Lake to 2-4 in the Big Nine and 5-9 overall
The Bombers, looking to improve their record to 5-1 in league play, jumped out to 3-0 lead on a three-point play by Nathan Streufert.
Richland's lead swelled to 7-0 as the Chiefs had trouble getting their offense in gear, turning the ball over on the first two possessions.
The Chiefs coach John Hohman, looking keep things from getting out of hand early, called a time out to try and settle the team.
The margin increased to 10-0 following the time out on a 3-point shot by Tyler Turner.
Moses Lake finally got on the board when Cliff Phillips hit one of two free throws to erase the goose egg, 10-1.
Richland got another bucket to go back up by double digits, but a basket by Jordan Garcia narrowed the gap 12-3.
Payton Radliff responded with a trey to put the Bombers up 15-3. The lead increased to 17-5, but the Chiefs Kevin Bennett hit a key bucket with 20 seconds left in the quarter to keep Moses Lake in it, 17-8.
However, Richland answered back with a bucket at the buzzer by Spencer Wheeler to go ahead 19-8.
The Chiefs offense heated up in the second quarter as the team out scored the Bombers 16-12 to get within seven, 31-24, on the strength of two 3-point buckets by Bennett and a solid defensive effort.
A last second shot by Richland's Colter Quick found its way through the cylinder at the buzzer to put the Bombers up 33-24 at the half.
Phillips hit the first bucket of the third quarter to get the Chiefs within seven, 33-26, but Richland went on a 15-11 run to go back up by double digits, 48-35 as time expired.
A basket by Bryce Perez, back-to-back buckets by Phillips and two free throws by Bennett gave the Chiefs life, 55-46 with three minutes left in the game.
Moses Lake drew within six, 57-51 with two minutes on the clock, but was forced to foul to try and preserve time.
The Bombers converted at the charity stripe and dealt the Chiefs a 68-56 loss.
Phillips led the way for the Chiefs with 16 points. Perez and Bennett added 11 each, and Denis Ulyanchuk finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
WENATCHEE - Moses Lake suffered a heart-breaking 59-58 overtime loss on the road to the Wenatchee Panthers Friday. Three Chiefs scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough to bring home a win.
Wenatchee took a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Moses Lake out scored the Panthers 20-10 in the second to take a 30-22 score into the lock room at the half.
The Chiefs offense sputtered in the second half as Moses Lake scored 19 to the Panthers 27 to tie the game 49-49 and send it to overtime.
Wenatchee finished with 10 points to the Chiefs nine in the extra period to win the game 59-58.
Moses Lake is back on the hardwood Friday when the team hits the road to take on Chiawana.