Chiefs stay on top of CBBN after wins over Panthers, Pirates

MOSES LAKE — Earlier in the season Wenatchee had hung with Moses Lake for a half, eventually succumbing to the relentless defensive and offensive pressure in a nine-point loss.

But any optimism the Panthers had entering their second meeting with the Chiefs was extinguished quickly.

Suffocating defense and precise offense fueled a 21-2 run by Moses Lake. By halftime it was 45-12 and the game, for all intents and purposes, was over.

Behind a career-high 17 points from Abby Rathbun the Chiefs bulldozed the Panthers 64-27.

“That was our No. 1 priority: start early,” head coach Matt Strophy said. “And then start often and I think we did a fantastic job of doing just that. Keeping it on, attacking the basket and then playing unselfish to where we got rhythm shots. I think we shot over 50 percent in the first half.”

The Chiefs were on from the opening tip with their first three possessions ending in layups by Jamie Loera, Taylor Yamane and Jessica Olson.

Then it was Rathbun’s turn.

The sophomore post scored eight quick points in a variety of ways: a dribble drive, a baseline jump shot, a put-back and a post move.

As a freshman, Rathbun’s activity level was high, but her fluidity on the offensive end still needed work. After tireless work over in the offseason, Strophy touted Rathbun as the team’s most improved player and it has shown in recent weeks.

“I’m a lot more comfortable,” Rathbun said. “I’ve played with all the girls all my life, but coming into the high school atmosphere it definitely is different. It’s kind of intimidating when you first come in and going all the way through state last year then coming in this year as a sophomore and starting and knowing how the program works I’ve definitely become more confident in my game and I’ve calmed down a whole lot more.”

The opening run was capped on a three-pointer by Loera who scored nine points in the first quarter to go along with Rathbun’s eight as Moses Lake had an 18-point lead after eight minutes of basketball.

Loera, one of the team’s vocal leaders, could tell before the game started that this game would go much differently than the one up in Wenatchee.

“In warm-ups we were encouraging each other, being loud and right when the tip of started we came on them hard and strong and that’s what we wanted to do,” she said.

Jessie Loera added her hay-maker in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her 16 points. Jamie Loera added 13 points

With a running clock enacted, the second half played as a formality with Moses Lake keeping its lead around the 30s.

The Chiefs wanted to prove something to start its second run through the CBBN: they are not interested in a co-league championship like the last two years.

“The first time we played everybody in league and we go 6-0 I think we established ourselves and I think a lot of times teams at that juncture teams can make excuses: this girl was hurt, that girl was in foul trouble, this girl was sick, we were on the road,” Strophy said. “Whatever peoples’ excuses are, our goal this time through in the second half is to prove it. We established early and we proved it now and so our goal, all five teams now after Wenatchee that we play, is to prove that we are the best team and that we want the No. 1 seed and people are not going to want to come here and play in the district tournament. I think we established that.”

Moses Lake 54, Davis 30

YAKIMA — Moses Lake’s pressure defense held Davis to nine points in the first half en route to a 54-30 win.

Jessie Loera scored a game-high 21 points and Jessica Olson added 10.

The second-ranked Chiefs improved to 8-0 in the CBBN and 16-0 overall.

Next up for Moses Lake is a road game against Eisenhower Jan. 29.

Warden edges Soap Lake, pulls away from Tonasket

WARDEN — Brenna and Bailey Whitney took over in the fourth quarter to help seventh-ranked Warden upend Tonasket 53-42.

Previously, Warden edged Soap Lake on the road 51-46.

Against the Tigers, the Cougars trailed by three at halftime before Brenna Whitney tied the game 33-all in the third quarter and Allycia Gonzales put Warden ahead 35-33 after a turnaround jumper.

From that point, Warden closed the quarter on an 8-1 run and took a 39-34 lead into the fourth quarter.

Tonasket had one more run, cutting the lead to one point before the Whitneys began to make plays. Baily Whitney converted a layup, which was followed by a Tonasket turnover that ended in a basket by Brenna Whitney.

Baily Whitney grabbed another steal and threw a pass to her big sister for another two points. The all-Whitney continued when Bailey split two defenders and forced a shot up at the rim that banked in.

Brenna scored on a fast break, pushing the run to 10-0, before Baily capped the spurt on a put-back after an offensive rebound.

Ephrata 70, Wapato 47

EPHRATA — The trio of Harley Vanatta, Katie Hilliard and Madi Youngers helped Ephrata blow out Wapato 70-47.

Vanatta turned in a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Hilliard and Youngers combined for 29 more points.

Othello drops a pair of games

SELAH — Othello struggled to contain third-ranked Ellensburg’s Kassidy Malcolm.

Malcolm scored 23 points and Ellensburg beat Othello 64-33.

Macy Hampton scored nine points to lead the Huskies.

Othello managed just one points in the fourth quarter against Selah and lost 65-20.

Diamond Franco scored a team-high nine points.

Quincy loses to East Valley, Grandview

QUINCY — Quincy dropped its game to East Valley 55-22 after trailing 22-12 at halftime.

The struggles continued against Grandview with Quincy losing 52-25.