No. 2 Moses Lake finishes regular season 20-0

MOSES LAKE — Ran the table.

A clean slate.

Unblemished.

Perfection.

Moses Lake girls basketball completed a rare feat after its 61-34 win over West Valley, finishing the regular season undefeated. A perfect 20-0.

“It means a lot,” head coach Matt Strophy said. “I’ve never done it in my coaching career at any level that I’ve coached at, at any school that I’ve coached at so I don’t think I’ve ever set it as a personal goal, but it’s kind of fun to be a part of it... Even though the girls are super excited to go 20-0 they still have perspective of that wasn’t the most important thing, but it sure feels good to kind of be in the history books as the only girls basketball program or team at Moses Lake High School that’s gone undefeated in their first 20 games.”

Moses Lake’s romp into the history books was filled with little drama. The No. 2 Chiefs played up to their ranking each night as only two games were decided by less than 10 points.

One of those two games was at West Valley on Jan. 16. Shooting a low percentage from the field, Moses Lake ground out a 50-43 victory.

But, with 20-0 on the line and senior night at home, the Chiefs were surgical in the first quarter against the Rams.

Led by Abby Rathbun and Jamie Loera, the lead swelled to 11-0 before West Valley scored with 1:50 to play. Another 8-0 spurt put Moses Lake ahead 19-2 and, as time expired, Loera threw in a three-pointer from the top of the key to make the advantage 22-4 after eight minutes.

“Just set the pace at that intensity and we’ll keep at it at that same intensity,” Jessie Loera said.

Paced by Jamie Loera’s 15 first-half points, Moses Lake continued the scoring barrage with 22 points in the second quarter. West Valley found a little more offense to counteract the potency of Moses Lake, however, the lead still stretched to 25 points at the break.

Against a West Valley team that posted four players at least 6-foot, the defense in the first half to build the lead and for the entire game to prevent a rally was a collective effort.

“Jessie picked up Shea Rubright at 6’3” and Jessie’s 5’7”,” Strophy said. “So that’s kind of that senior leadership, ownership, I’ve got this, she’s not going to score. I don’t know if she scored. I’d have to look, but I know she didn’t have any post-up moves on Jessie and so those girls will do whatever it takes, whatever rotation we need to make.

“I know Taylor Yamane got put on her one time on a switch and you know what, if everybody’s willing to do the job — whatever that job is — do the job, we’ll be successful.”

Up 25 points, Moses Lake’s offense slowed down in the third quarter and put up just seven.

Conversely, the defense continued to play at a high level and gave up seven itself to maintain the 25-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.

The Rams drew within 20 points for the first time since very early in the second quarter with 3:45 left in the game until Jessie Loera came back down the floor and drilled a three-pointer to build the lead back up to 22 points.

Jessie Loera overcame a rocky shooting night to score 15 points in her final regular season home game.

“I’m sad a little bit, but I know I have to keep moving on and keep continuing my career so I’m looking forward to that,” she said.

Rathbun added 12 points and Jamie Loera cruised to a game-high 19 points.

After a freshman season where Jamie Loera was trying to find her way, she has blossomed into the perfect scoring complement to her sister’s facilitation.

“I love playing with her,” Jamie Loera said. “It’s actually been like eight years straight. Summer ball, AAU and then high school ball it’s just so fun. I will miss her, but hopefully it will maybe work out in the future but it’s fun. It’s really fun.”

Ellensburg 66, Ephrata 45

SUNNYSIDE — Harley Vanatta’s 23 points wasn’t enough as Ephrata dropped its district semifinal game to Ellensburg 66-45.

The Tigers trailed 33-12 at halftime before playing the Bulldogs even in the second half.

Katie Hilliard chipped in six points.

Ephrata moves into the consolation bracket and will play Selah at Wapato High School on Tuesday. Ephrata lost both meetings against Selah during the regular season.

Tonasket 46, Warden 40

EAST WENATCHEE — At times, basketball is as simple as make or miss.

And Warden struggled from the field throughout its district tournament run. Warden was eliminated after a 46-40 loss to Tonasket in the consolation bracket.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” head coach Dan Caballero said. “We just could not make anything. We pretty much struggled to get things going offensively.”

Allycia Gonzales led the Cougars with 14 points.

Despite bowing out of the postseason early, Caballero is excited for next year’s team that should feature just one upperclassman.