An emotional win

MOSES LAKE — Clutch performances by Moses Lake senior co-captains Sydney Macdonald and Marissa Bischoff helped the Mavericks secure a 52-50 win on senior night over West Valley (Yakima) on Friday night.

“It’s nice that we can lean on that senior experience and the calm, cool, collected nature that Marissa Bischoff had at the free throw line was crucial,” Head Coach Matt Strophy said. “(Macdonald), throughout the game did a fantastic job of attacking the rim. Then she also gets some perimeter shots because they sag on her, so she did a really good job tonight of reading things and taking what they gave us.”

Macdonald surpassed her previous career high of 20 points with a 24-point outing against the Rams on Friday, finding success driving to the rim, shooting from three and converting at the charity stripe.

“It felt so good setting it on my Senior Night,” Macdonald said. “I was hoping that I’d have a good game on my senior night. I think that was a good way to end our home games.”

Bischoff helped ice the game away with three clutch free throws that gave Moses Lake the lead with under a minute remaining.

The senior said she resorted to her typical routine while at the free throw line, which helped wash the pressure away.

“I’ve had some issues getting in my head before with free throws, so when I got on the line I sing my ABC’s,” Bischoff said. “Which sounds weird, but I just sing my ABC’s and it just helps me clear my mind so I’m not thinking about score, my shot – I just clear my mind.”

Junior Lexi Cox scored nine of her 15 points in the second half, including hitting two shots from beyond the arc.

“She really stepped up in that second half and gave us some buckets when we needed to,” Strophy said.

Moses Lake jumped out to an 8-3 lead midway through the first quarter before the Rams rallied to take a 13-12 lead into the second quarter. Macdonald hit a late three-pointer to give the Mavericks a 26-20 lead into halftime.

“Looking at the last game and getting prepared for it and being able to come out and beat them after we lost to them last time – it was a good win for our Senior Night,” Macdonald said.

The Mavs once again led by six going into the fourth quarter, later taking an 11-point lead after a transition layup by Macdonald assisted by Cox. The Rams used three-pointers to go on a 15-3 run down the stretch of the fourth quarter, taking a 50-49 lead over Moses Lake before Bischoff’s clutch free throws.

Bischoff’s free throw tied the game at 50, and she was fouled on the next Moses Lake possession and made both of her shots.

“We’ve been practicing our end-of-game situations, which helped a lot,” Macdonald said. “So that we know what to do in those situations. We weren’t stressing out.”

West Valley had the ball with under 10 seconds left on the clock, but missed shots gave Moses Lake a senior night victory.

“It’s really emotional because all this time we’ve spent for four years – during practices, games, meals, film, everything we do as a team is for this night, our last home game,” Bischoff said. “It’s emotional, it’s bittersweet. It’s sad because we don’t want to leave. It’s nice to look back on what we’ve accomplished for the last four years.”

“It’s a celebration of those couple of seniors that have been here four years,” Strophy said. “It’s not easy, and they’re the two that lasted. It’s an emotional night to recognize those seniors, and then it kind of takes a little bit out of you – but we did a fine job out on the floor.”

The Mavericks will close out the regular season on the road against Eastmont on Saturday. Moses Lake, Eastmont and West Valley are all fighting for the No. 4 seed in the Columbia Basin Big 9 district tournament. The No. 4 seed will host a district playoff game against the No. 5 seed on Feb. 14.

“We put ourselves in the driver’s seat tonight,” Strophy said. “We’ve just got to keep it going next week.”

Ian Bivona can be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Box Score

Moses Lake 12-14-11-15 52

West Valley 13-7-11-19 50