No. 2 Moses Lake girls three-peat as district champions

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake girls basketball improved to 22-0 and three-peated as district champions after wins over Wenatchee and Sunnyside.

In two games that contrasted in style, Moses Lake won a high-scoring affair with Wenatchee 70-55 in the semifinals.

“Defensively we didn’t have the energy we would’ve liked to have,” head coach Matt Strophy said.

The lack of defensive energy was offset by the offense as the Chiefs shot nearly 50 percent from the field and scored 70 or more points for the sixth time this season.

Moses Lake held Sunnyside to single digit scoring in all four quarters in the district title game and won 50-32.

The Chiefs led by nine points at halftime and 17 at the end of three quarters.

“It was more defensive intelligence,” Strophy said.

Not wanting to press the Grizzles, the Chiefs slowed the game down and executed half-court offense to methodically stretch their lead out.

Jamie Loera scored a game-high 15 points and Jessie Loera added 11.

No. 2 Moses Lake drew No. 6 Chiawana for its regional game. The Riverhawks are 21-3 and lost to the Chiefs by 21 points on Dec. 8. Jessie Loera scored 37 points, setting the Moses Lake single-game scoring record.

The winner-to-state game will be played Friday, 8 p.m., at Big Bend Community College.

East Valley (Spokane) 76, Ephrata 51

SPOKANE — Ephrata fell into a 20-point halftime hole and lost to East Valley (Spokane) 76-51.

The loss knocked Ephrata out of the playoffs. Harley Vanatta scored a game-high 22 points and Katie Hilliard added 14.

Both teams combined to shoot 73 free throws.

Entiat 49, Moses Lake Christian Academy 34

EPHRATA — Moses Lake Christian Academy struggled on offense and lost the district championship to Entiat 49-34.

MLCA was eliminated from the postseason.

Boys basketball

Brewster 59, Warden 32

EAST WENATCHEE — Top-ranked Brewster was a tall order for Warden.

The Cougars dropped their district title game against the Bears 59-32. However, Warden did advance to the regional round for the second straight year and will play Lind-Ritzville/Sprague.

Warden and LRS link up Saturday, 10 a.m., at Mt. Spokane High School.

Riverside Christian 67, Moses Lake Christian Academy 33

EPHRATA — Moses Lake Christian Academy was unable to advance to regionals, losing to Riverside Christian 67-33.

Boys swimming

Noah Heaps 12th in 500 freestyle

FEDERAL WAY — Moses Lake’s Noah Heaps made it into the consolation finals of the 500 freestyle and placed 12th with a time of 4 minutes, 56.29 seconds.

Heaps crashed the consolation finals after shaving over five seconds off of his seed time during preliminaries.

In the 200 individual medley, Heaps took 23rd in prelims.

Heaps accounted for five of Moses Lake’s seven team points.

The other two were awarded to Isaiah Zeller who finished 15th in diving with 285.15 points.

Diver Garrett Widmer made it to the semifinals with 194.75 points.

Moses Lake’s relay team of Ander Molitor, Garrett Lake, Kyle Jorgensen and Heaps finished 17th and 20th in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay, respectively.

Newport of Bellevue won the team championship.