Lady Chiefs go down swinging

TACOMA — In the throes of late-game execution, a team with a strong interior presence more often than not fares better than a team predicated on the perimeter.

Unable to stymie the posts of Central Valley in the final three minutes, Moses Lake was outscored 13-3 and suffered its first defeat of the season in the state quarterfinals 47-39.

Pitting two of the best defenses in the state against each other, neither team could generate much of an offensive rhythm. However, the Bears were able to convert six crucial free throws in the final 90 seconds to create separation.

“I think that stretch... Those three to four possessions,” head coach Matt Strophy said. “That was kind of the determining factor in my mind in the game and of course along the way there’s all sorts of different situations that we could’ve gotten better shots, or a stop, or not given up the offensive rebound, or whatever the case may be.”

Central Valley led for much of the first quarter before a three-pointer by Jamie Loera gave Moses Lake a 10-9 lead.

CV would regain a 13-12 advantage after the first quarter.

Against the tall front line of the Bears, Abby Rathbun crashed the offensive glass and created extra scoring opportunities for the Chiefs.

Rathbun collected five offensive and seven total rebounds in the first half and her layup off a feed from Jessie Loera put Moses Lake ahead 21-17 in the second quarter.

The Chiefs took a 22-21 lead in to recess and out-rebounded the bigger Bears 20-16.

However, Lacie Hull was saddled with foul trouble for much of the first half. With the 6-foot-1 forward back on the court in the third and fourth quarter, the rebounding edge slid toward Central Valley 42-37.

“We knew that was going to be the way that they were going to beat us and I think that kind of proved to be it a little bit,” Strophy said. “Again, that offensive rebound on that free throw situation kind of put that nail in that coffin. So keeping them off the offensive glass was our No. 1 priority and we did that a lot, but they’re good and they get after it and so when they get their opportunities they were taking advantage of them.”

Central Valley began the third quarter on a 6-0 run and regained a 27-22 lead. Moses Lake rallied to cut its deficit to two points entering the fourth quarter.

Knotted at 31-31, a jumper by Loera and another basket by Rathbun pulled the Chiefs ahead by four points.

Jessie Loera, Jamie Loera and Jessica Olson split a pair of free throws each on three straight trips, giving Moses Lake a 36-34 lead.

Central Valley answered with a 9-0 run before Jamie Loera canned a corner three-point to draw Moses Lake within four points with less than 20 seconds to play, 43-39.

The Chiefs were unable to come up with a crucial steal and their Bears made their free throws, icing the game.

Neither team shot well from the field as Moses Lake finished with a field goal percentage of 25 and Central Valley finishing with 30. However, CV made up ground at the free throw line, shooting 80 percent.

The Chiefs shot just 56.3 percent from the charity stripe.

Rathbun turned in a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jamie Loera scored a team-high 14 points.

After finishing fifth the past two years, the Chiefs still have a chance to improve on that mark with two wins to finish the tournament.

Moses Lake faces Skyview today at 10:30 a.m.

“We’ll give them time to stew over this, but by the time we leave the Dome they’ve got to focus on who our next opponent if they want to continuing working toward the goals that we have,” Strophy said. “Even though a state championship was that back side goal and we’re not going to get that. We have other goals. We want to finish these next two games on wins and we have to do it by getting our mind right quickly.”