MLCA Lions rout CBSS Phoenix

MOSES LAKE - The outcome was decided after the first quarter.

Moses Lake Christian Academy girls basketball pounced on Columbia Basin from the opening tip and began the game on a 29-2 run that spilled into the second quarter.

The Lions cruised to a 63-9 win and are now 12-4, tied atop the Central Washington 1B standings.

Head coach Jessica Anissipour had little trouble keeping her team focused as the lead began to swell.

"They know what I expect of them," she said. "If they slack they don't get to play, so whoever is going to give me everything they have every game is who gets to stay on the floor and a lot of my bench people stepped it up quite a bit today so that was pretty awesome."

MLCA held Columbia Basin without a basket in the first quarter, jumping out to a 23-0 lead. The CBSS drought was broken with about five minutes remaining in the second quarter when senior Amber Lloyd was able to score.

Using stingy defense and efficient offense, the Lions built a 37-7 lead by halftime. When her team build a hearty lead, Anissipour lifted the press and slowed down the offense.

"It's hard when you have to put restraints on them so we don't beat people by too much so they did a really good job and first quarter they played outstanding," she said. "They were very smart and they ended pretty smart so I was happy with that and it wasn't one of our roller coaster games like we usually have and we've done pretty well against them every time, but it's not always consistent so I was happy with how they performed tonight."

Sophomore Anna Yarbro scored a game-high 26 points, with the majority of her scoring coming in the paint. Yarbro dominated from the opening tip on offense and was also matched up against Lloyd, Columbia Basin's solid front court player, on defense.

"She could have stepped it up on defense a little bit more, but she did a really good job," Anissipour said. "She's prone to fouling so this time she slid her feet and she wasn't playing with her hands, she was playing with her feet. She did pretty well, she did exactly what I asked her to do so I'm pretty happy with her."

Sophomore Danielle Sandberg and junior Mikaela Loudon added 11 points each.

Moses Lake Christian Academy travels to face Easton Feb. 7 in the team's final road game before closing the season at home against Wilson Creek Feb. 13.

MLCA boys downed by Phoenix

Columbia Basin Secondary School used an explosive second half to sprint past MLCA, 59-40.

The Phoenix are now 7-7 overall and 2-5 in league play. Seniors Kyrelle Buckley and Dan Sielaff combined to score 33 points for Columbia Basin.

Senior Jacob Moreno added 12 points.

Moses Lake Christian Academy falls to 2-6 in league play and 3-12 overall.