Prep roundup: Moses Lake stunned in district semis by Eastmont
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Morgan Skone keeps her eyes on the ball against Eastmont.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake defender Taya Rogers (8) makes a play for the ball against Eastmont's midfielder Maria Mendoza.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake forward Madi Krogh (2) tries to get a shot off next to Eastmont defender Tess Sparks.
MOSES LAKE — The last team to beat Moses Lake in the regular season was the team to eliminate it from the postseason.
Eastmont midfielder Jayden Brown converted a goal in the 67th minute after a scrum in front of the net to stun No. 1 seed Moses Lake in the district semifinals 1-0. The goal was one of few quality looks for the Wildcats, who packed in defensively to hold the lead until the end of regulation.
Off a bye into the semifinals, the Chiefs’ shots were off-kilter for the entire contest.
Madi Krogh shot wide left off a redirected ball from Morgan Skone in the 18th minute. Krogh, this time as the facilitator, fed another pass to Natalie Bunch about 15 minutes later only for another shot on goal to just miss.
The frustrations continued to mount as chances either continued to land off the mark or were gobbled into the waiting arms of Eastmont goalie Kora Fry.
A couple late opportunities kept hope of an equalizer in play.
Fry collided with a handful of players near the edge of the box, leaving an open goal for Skone. However, Eastmont captain Alyssa Konarek arrived in time to kick the ball away in Fry’s place.
Denali Knowles took a free kick during second-half stoppage that was redirected off two Chiefs into the hands of Fry, who finished with 10 saves between the posts.
Eastmont will travel to West Valley for the District 6 championship game on Saturday.
Other Basin scores
Ephrata 1, Othello 0
Prep volleyball
Ephrata falls in district semifinals
ELLENSBURG — Ephrata took care of rival Quincy in straight sets 25-16, 25-16, 25-23 before falling to CWAC No. 1 seed Ellensburg in the semifinals 25-27,25-17,25-12,25-10.
The Tigers used a balanced attack to eliminate the Jacks for the postseason. Laura Davis, Madelen Owens, Mya Buchert, Denali Sheneman and Hayden Mills all recorded four or more kills; Davis notched a team-high nine.
Mackenzie Kleyn and Morgan Kleyn led Quincy with 10 and nine kills, respectively.
In the district semifinals, Ephrata could not slow down Ellensburg’s Tia Andaya. Andaya posted 21 kills for the top-seeded Bulldogs.
Ephrata will play Selah in a loser-out contest on Thursday.
Other Basin scores
La Salle d. Wahluke 25-8, 25-7, 25-7
Moses Lake 3, Davis 0
Selah 3, Othello 0