Chiefs ready for playoff push

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake girls bowling has had a solid, workmanlike season so far.

The team has taken care of every opponent except for the pesky Wenatchee Panthers and currently sits in second place in the Columbia Basin Big 9 at 3-2 and 7-2 overall.

Head coach Billy Brice hopes that his team can propel itself into the state tournament conversation with the postseason drawing nearer. He knows his team has the potential after the Chiefs bowled an astonishing 933 against Eisenhower, a high score for the Big 9 at the time.

"The girls know that they have to bowl good and they have been working on their spares in their games," Brice said. "I feel pretty comfortable with what's going on with them, it's really kind of up to them they've been gelling pretty good as a team."

Brice said that he didn't have much of a structured practice schedule during the holiday break. He left it up to his girls to continue to practice and maintain their timing.

The Chiefs didn't need much convincing.

"They came down pretty much about every day that they were asked to and they looked pretty good," Brice said. "I'm watching them out there bowl right now and we've had a great workout."

With undefeated Wenatchee in the driver's seat for a league championship, Moses Lake figures to be traveling for the district tournament on Jan. 28.

But Brice knows that regular season records are irrelevant in the postseason. One strong outing and the Chiefs can advance to the state tournament.

"Whoever bowls the best on that one day can go on," Brice said. "Your record's thrown out the window, it's playoffs."

Entering the holiday break some Chiefs were fighting illness and some nagging injuries. Brice said that his team is now healthy and bowling loose entering the final push toward the postseason, and he likes Moses Lake's chances.

"Somebody's going to win it, might as well be us," he said. "We've done it before."