Moses Lake faces tall order in Richland

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake head coach John Hohman was his usual wisecracking self when asked about Richland’s 7-foot-3 center Riley Sorn.

“I think we’re going to start seven guys,” Hohman said. “One guy on another guy’s shoulders is what we’re planning.”

Sorn, an anomaly at the high school level, poses the biggest match-up issue for Moses Lake. Listed at 6-foot-4, senior forward Ryan Karstetter is the Chiefs’ tallest player.

Hohman said his team has faced Sorn during summer basketball and will go at him like any other player.

The Mid-Columbia Conference champion Bombers also have the league’s player of the year Tyler Kurtz. Kurtz is a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 18.8 points per game.

“Our guys have to play,” Hohman said. “They’re Richland. That’s what they do. They defend. Man-to-man they’re tough.”

Moses Lake is no stranger to playing big games against Richland in the Tri-Cities. Friday night’s game is a rematch of a regional game from 2014. That game was also played in a packed Chiawana High School that had to turn away fans who came too late.

In 2014, Richland was undefeated and benefited from a foul disparity to pull away late in the second half after Moses Lake got within seven points. The Bombers would go on to finish second in state.

Hohman hopes the 6 p.m. time slot can somewhat curb Richland’s geographical advantage.

“It’s nice that we’re playing early,” he said.

A late season turnaround has gotten the Chiefs to their third regional game in four seasons. After closing the regular season with three straight losses, Moses Lake bounced back to win its first two district games to qualify for the state tournament and earn a No. 14 seed.

Moses Lake beat Central Valley 59-55 in its last regional appearance in 2015.

“Three times in four years, man,” Hohman said. “I’m pretty proud of my coaches and my kids.”

The future is bright for the Chiefs with only two seniors, but they are not quite ready for the present to end.

Before the loser-out district semifinals game against the Rams, Hohman posed a question to his team: do you want to be a good team or a great team?

“They decided they’re going to be a state team.”