Moses Lake drops game to Eastmont

WENATCHEE - Coach John Hohman took his team to Eastmont hoping to knock off the No. 1 seeded Wildcats in the first round of the district playoff's Friday and advance to the next round.

But it wasn't in the cards as the Chiefs dropped the game, 60-43 and were eliminated from postseason play.

"I felt pretty positive going into the game," Hohman said. " We had our best week of practice this year ... the kids did what we asked ... and played their hearts out. Unfortunately, we came up on the short end of the scoreboard."

The teams played it close to the vest to start things off with Eastmont taking a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter of action. But a 21-13 run by the Wildcats pushed the score to 33-21 Eastmont at the half.

The Chiefs put 12 points on the board to the Wildcats 8 to get within reach, 41-33 heading into the final eight minutes of play. Eastmont, unwilling to yield, scored 19 points to Moses Lake's 10 to put the game away and put an end to the Chiefs season.

"It was a somber locker room afterward," Hohman said. "The kids really wanted to move on and we didn't, and we have to say goodbye to four of our seniors, Trio Rubio who I've known since he was in kindergarten, Cameron Ballard, Easton Baker and Denis Ulyanchuk. Those guys have really help build our program the past four years and we are really going to miss them."

Mitch Hohman led the offensive attack for the Chiefs with 14 points. Ulyanchuk added 12 points and 12 rebounds, Josh Hirz had 10 points, Nick Sutherland scored 3, and Rubio and Ballard finished with 2 points each.