Big third quarter sends No. 3 Moses Lake past No. 6 Sunnyside
Moses Lake's Abby Rathbun (40) puts up a shot over two Sunnyside defenders Saturday at Moses Lake High School.
MOSES LAKE — For the first 13 minutes, sixth-ranked Sunnyside controlled the tempo against No. 3 Moses Lake.
The up-and-down pace the Chiefs thrive on was reduced to a slog and the Grizzlies opened up a 17-11 lead mid-way through the second quarter.
And then things changed dramatically.
Moses Lake ended the second quarter on an 9-0 run, scored 30 points in the third quarter and turned a once close game into a rout with a 59-33 win.
To start the run, Alexya Sandmann knocked in a three-pointer and split a trip to the free throw line for four quick points. Jessie Loera snaked through the defense for back-to-back lay-ups and suddenly Moses Lake (4-0, 12-0) was ahead 19-17.
After Olson split another trip to the free throw line, the rangy forward sent a Sunnyside shot into the stands. Sunnyside couldn’t get a shot off before the halftime buzzer.
“We felt like we needed to do it individually instead of doing it together,” head coach Matt Strophy said. “I think when Alexya came in we had some good plays, she specifically. Then when we played together and when we do it for each other we go on a run to end the half and have momentum going into the third quarter.”
Moses Lake opened third quarter on an 8-2 behind two three-points from Loera. A free throw by Loera gave the Chiefs their first double digit lead, 29-19, that continued to swell.
By not fouling and committing one turnover, Loera, Abby Rathbun and the rest of the Chiefs were able to run unimpeded. The Grizzlies were unable to match the pace and were outscored 30-8 in the third quarter.
“Probably one of our best quarters so far in the year,” Strophy said. “Our shot selection’s better, our selfishness or lack thereof is better, all those things got better. We took those last couple of minutes of momentum from the second quarter through halftime into the third quarter and we have to maintain that, though.”
The trip of Jessie Loera, Jamie Loera and Rathbun scored 52 of Moses Lake’s 59 points.
Ephrata splits with East Valley, Quincy
East Valley went 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the final minute to outlast Ephrata, 36-34.
Harley Vanatta paced Ephrata with 19 points. Katie Hilliard added eight points.
The Tigers (6-4, 7-5) trounced Quincy the next night 62-28.
Toppenish 73, Quincy 41
QUINCY — Quincy had no answer for Toppenish’s Jenni Johnson, who scored 30 points, and lost 73-41.
Quincy (0-9, 1-10) lost its seventh straight the next night to Ephrata, 62-28.
Prosser 47, Othello 27
OTHELLO — A four-point first half doomed Othello against Prosser.
The Huskies (1-9, 1-10) lost 47-27, led by Macy Hampton’s eight points. Diamond Franco notched seven points.
No. 8 Warden handed first loss by No. 4 Mabton
Warden opened its season 8-0, beating Kittitas 36-22.
Shania Kisler led the Cougars to the road win with 13 points. Bailey Whitney scored 12.
However, in a battle of ranked teams, Mabton routed Warden (2-1, 8-1) 73-42 on Saturday.
Soap Lake drops two over weekend
Soap Lake fell to White Swan 46-19 before losing a nonleague game to Entiat 50-32.
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