Chiefs pick up two wins

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake girls basketball team took two games over the weekend and moved into sole possession of first place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine standings with 7-1 record.

The Chiefs got past Eastmont on the road Friday, then beat Davis by 26 points at home Saturday.

Moses Lake 58

Eastmont 51

Three Chiefs scored in double figures to lead Moses Lake to a 7 point win over the Wildcats. McKenna Walker set the pace for Moses Lake with 14 points, Kaitlyn Stevens had 11, and Sadie Nielsen knocked down 10.

"McKenna really got us going in the first quarter hitting 4-of -5 shots, including two 3-pointers," coach Matt Strophy said.  "And Avery Clark scored 4 points in the paint to give us a solid inside-out combination."

The Chiefs got out to a 17-12 lead at the end of the first eight minutes of action, and were up 32-25 at the half. Both teams scored 26 second half points, but the Wildcats were unable to pull out the win, much to the dismay of their home crowd.

"Eastmont is a quality opponent that never gives up," Strophy said. "We may have led from start to finish, but were never able to build more than a 10-point lead."

The Wildcats were able to get within in 4 points in the fourth quarter, but the Chiefs turned back the threat to preserve the victory.

"We still have things to work on, but the girls have a desire to get better, and that will keep us going in the right direction," Strophy said. "They know they aren't just competing against our opponents, but against our best selves, so we are constantly striving to improve our basketball skills and IQ."

Jessie Loera added 8 points, Carina LeFave had 5, Clark and Emily Olson contributed 4 each, and Courtney Kunjara scored 2 to round out the tally for Moses Lake.

Moses Lake 56

Davis 30

The second game of the weekend proved less taxing on the Chiefs as Moses Lake had its way with Davis on the Chiefs home court, turning back the Pirates by 26 points.

Moses Lake jumped out front 11-6 at the end of the first quarter, and led 33-14 at the break.

"Our four posts (Clark, LeFave, Stevens, and Nielsen) combined for 19 of our 33 first half points to set the tone of strength and dominance that would last the entire game," Strophy said. "That inside presence created mismatches for the Pirates, and resulted in four of their top five guards getting into in foul trouble and allowed us to blow open the game with a 22-8 second quarter."

The Chiefs, coming out after the break determined to maintain their 19-point advantage, hung 23 points on the board to the Pirates 16 to cruise to victory.

"Our defensive pressure and intensity really gave them fits," Strophy said.  Eleven of our players saw the court and all scored, yet nobody finished in double figures.  If we can score 56 points without anyone in double figures, that just goes to show how unselfish our girls are.  They don't care about stats or who gets credit. They care about winning and getting better."

Clark and Olson led the offensive output for Moses Lake with 9 points each. Nielsen and Kunjara added 7 each, Stevens and Walker had 6, Ashley Overland scored 2, and Selina Koon and Hailee Bishop finished with 1 point each. 

The two wins put the Chiefs at 7-1 in league play and 10-3 overall. Moses Lake is back in action Friday when the Chiefs travel to Sunnyside to take on the Grizzlies. Moses Lake plays Eisenhower Saturday at home at 6 p.m.