RECAP: Local teams compete for state titles

COLUMBIA BASIN – State championship season is in full swing for local teams here in the Columbia Basin, with seven schools sending teams off to state competition. Check out this week’s local sports recap for an update on how teams have fared in last week’s competitions.

ACH

The Almira-Coulee-Hartline Warriors fell in the first round of the 1B State Football Playoffs to Naselle on Saturday, losing 64-6. ACH struggled to move the ball against the Comets, only amassing 117 total yards of offense in the loss. Freshman Brady Roberts scored ACH’s lone touchdown in the game, reaching the end zone on a 41-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors finished their season with a 7-4 record and made their seventh-straight state playoff appearance.

Ephrata

The Ephrata Tigers are returning to the 2A State Volleyball Tournament after their 3-1 win over Clarkston in the District 5/6/8 Crossover on Saturday. Ephrata jumped out to a 2-0 set lead, winning the first two sets 25-12, with the Bantams winning the third set 25-20. The Tigers rallied for a 25-15 win in the fourth set, clinching a state appearance. Seedings for the 2A State Volleyball Tournament were released on Sunday, with the Tigers named the No. 15 seed. Ephrata will take on No. 2 Columbia River in the first round of the tournament on Friday at 10:45 a.m. in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Other Ephrata results:

Ephrata football nearly upset No. 2 W. F. West in the 2A State Playoffs on Friday, falling 29-28. The Tigers finished the year 6-5.

Lind-Ritzville

See today’s story on the Broncos placing sixth at the 2A State Volleyball Tournament.

Moses Lake

The Moses Lake Mavericks placed fourth at the 4A State Swim and Dive meet over the weekend. The Mavs had six swimmers compete in the finals of eight different events (200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard freestyle relay). Check out today’s photo recognition of swimmers at the 4A State Meet.

MLCA/CCS

The No. 13 Lions traveled to Yakima for the 1B State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, their first appearance in the state tournament since 2010. MLCA/CCS first defeated No. 20 Columbia Adventist 3-1, bouncing back from an opening set loss to advance in the tournament. The Lions next faced No. 4 Naselle, falling 3-0 to the Comets. In the seventh/eighth place bracket, MLCA/CCS lost 3-1 to No. 5 Liberty Christian. The Lions finished the season 17-6.

Othello

The No. 5 seed Huskies took care of business in the first round of the 2A State Football Playoffs on Saturday, knocking off No. 12 Washington 49-12 at home. Othello used its dominant rushing attack to guide them to their first state playoff win in nine years. Senior running back Julian Alegria found the end zone four times in the win, and the Huskies scored six rushing touchdowns. Next up for Othello is a road game against the No. 4 Enumclaw Hornets, with kickoff Saturday at 3 p.m.

Other Othello results:

Othello volleyball was eliminated by Selah in the District 5/6 Tournament on Tuesday. Othello finished the season 8-10.

Royal

The No. 1 seed Knights advanced in the 1A State Football Playoffs with a 41-7 win over Cascade Christian on Saturday. Royal scored four touchdowns in the first half, two of which came on runs by senior running back Kaleb Hernandez. The top-seeded Knights now prepare for No. 8 Montesano, who defeated Toppenish 24-22 on Friday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Royal High School.