Top Five

TACOMA - Leading by double digits in the second half, it appeared Moses Lake's improbable run through the 4A Girls Hardwood Classic would reach the championship game.

However, Mt. Rainier's two-time Gatorade Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year Brittany McPhee exerted her will and pulled the Rams ahead with seconds remaining.

"She kind of took over the game and we did everything we could," head coach Matt Strophy said. "We watched the film afterward and, you know what, we did everything right and she made baskets."

Moses Lake's quest toward a state championship ended with a semifinal loss to Mt. Rainier, 56-55. The Chiefs entered halftime with a one-point lead that swelled to six entering the fourth. But the team played a shaky final period and was outscored 17-10.

"Give us one possession that goes our favor in the fourth quarter and we win that ball game," Strophy said. "Unfortunately, with Brittany McPhee they were just able to dwindle it down and then overtake us."

McPhee, who is headed to Stanford in the fall, was held in check for a majority of the afternoon. The senior had totalled just six points at halftime, but finished with 26 as well as 12 rebounds and eight blocks.

McPhee was forced to take 24 shots and recorded a ghastly 11 turnovers.

Strophy and his players were commended for their work against the star.

"We got a nice compliment from their coach that basically was that we really had a solid game plan against them ... One of the toughest defensive efforts against Brittany all year," he said.

The Moses Lake back court of sophomore Jessie Loera and junior McKenna Walker was the lone bright spot for the Chiefs. The duo combined for 47 of Moses Lake's 55 points against the Rams.

In the third/fifth place game, Moses Lake faced Lynnwood, a team that had been ranked No. 1 for a majority of the season.

Moses Lake trailed by three entering the fourth quarter against the Royals before tired legs gave way. Moses Lake was only able to muster four points in the final stanza and had to settle for a fifth place finish after a 48-38 defeat.

Loera and Wa1ker excelled once again with 10 and 12 points, respectively. Walker also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Loera was somewhat limited to 26 minutes on Saturday after waking up in the early morning sick.

Strophy and his staff considered sitting Loera against Lynnwood, but after some convincing the point guard was cleared to play.

"She is just begging and pleading and praying ... 'Please I want to play. Not just for myself but for my teammates and for our program and for Moses Lake as a town or community and so I don't want to let anybody down,"' he said. "You got to applaud a kid who's willing to put aside the individuality and go for the unity and the togetherness that we have as a program and as a team."

Despite graduating six players, Moses Lake figures to have a great shot at returning to the Tacoma Dome as the Chiefs’ three sub-varsity teams lost four times total this season.

“I think we’ve been doing a good job of building a tradition and it takes the responsibility of the younger girls to step into those roles and keep that tradition going and keeping it strong.”

Jamie Loera, Jessie’s younger sister, will also be entering high school and should contend for a varsity spot right away. The younger Loera may be able to provide a spell for her sister who rarely left the court this season.

“They’ll be able to give each other breaks,” Strophy said. “This year we really struggled to find a backup point guard. Emily Olson did a great job because we needed it. She said I’ll do whatever you want us to do.”