Basin hoops roundup: Local squads compete in non-league action

MOSES LAKE — With winter sports now in full swing, boys and girls basketball teams across the Columbia Basin have tipped off their 2024-25 seasons. Read along for a look at how local teams have fared through the early weeks of the regular season.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Boys (2-0)

The Warriors began the season with a home game against Kettle Falls on Saturday, defeating the Bulldogs 60-43 to claim their first win of the season. On Tuesday, ACH defeated Oakesdale 64-47 to improve to 2-0. ACH travels to Tonasket on Friday at 7:30 p.m. for another non-league matchup before beginning Northeast 1B play on the road against Wellpinit on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls (1-1)

After falling 37-32 to Kettle Falls in the season opener Saturday, the ACH Warriors rallied with a win over Oakesdale on Tuesday, defeating the Nighthawks in a narrow 46-45 win on their home floor to improve to 1-1. Similarly to the boys team, the Warrior girls basketball team travels to face Tonasket Friday at 6 p.m. and Wellpinit on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Ephrata

Boys (0-2)

Ephrata took on Moses Lake and Chelan to begin the 2024-25 season, falling 65-47 to the Mavericks on Dec. 3 and 66-46 to the Mountain Goats on Dec. 6. The Tigers will see another non-league opponent in West Valley (Spokane) on Friday at 7 p.m. before beginning league play Saturday at Prosser at 5 p.m.

Girls (0-2)

The Tigers opened the regular season with back-to-back matchups against Moses Lake on Dec. 3 and Chelan on Dec. 6, falling in both outings; Ephrata lost 57-23 to the Mavericks and 54-37 to the Mountain Goats. Ephrata continues its non-league slate with a home game against West Valley (Spokane) on Friday at 5:30 and opens Central Washington Athletic Conference play Saturday at Prosser at 3:30 p.m.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Boys (1-3)

After suffering back-to-back losses to Reardan (93-20) and Davenport (54-48) to begin the season, the LRS Broncos got in the win column with a win over Warden on Saturday, defeating the Cougars 76-54 at home. Following the win over Warden, the Broncos fell to Columbia (Burbank) 93-36 on Tuesday. LRS takes on Kittitas on Friday at 7:30.

Girls (1-3)

The LRS girls basketball team also suffered losses to Reardan (48-35) and Davenport (58-55) to open the season but won their first game with Saturday’s 53-25 win over Warden. In Tuesday’s game against Columbia, the Broncos fell 47-44 on the road – their second three-point loss of the season. LRS hosts Kittitas on Friday at 6 p.m.

Moses Lake

Boys (1-3)

The Mavericks began the season with a 65-47 win over Ephrata but have lost their last three matchups against Kennewick (53-44), Ferris (73-51) and most recently Ellensburg (66-54) on Tuesday. Moses Lake begins Columbia Basin Big 9 play Friday at Wenatchee.

Girls (2-2)

After defeating Ephrata 57-23 in the season opener Dec. 3, Moses Lake lost its next two games against both Kennewick (73-32) on Dec. 5 and Ferris (50-30) on Dec. 6. However, the Mavericks evened their record at 2-2 with Tuesday’s road win over Hanford, defeating the Falcons 53-37. Moses Lake travels to Wenatchee on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

MLCA/CCS

Boys (2-1)

Following a season-opening 65-24 win over Wilson Creek, the MLCA/CCS Lions fell in a non-league matchup to Tonasket (2B) on Saturday, suffering a 60-46 loss to the Tigers. The Lions rallied with a 58-40 win over 1A Cascade (Leavenworth) on Monday to improve to 2-1 this winter.

MLCA/CCS travels to Warden on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Girls (1-2)

Coming off a 30-27 loss to Wilson Creek to open the season, MLCA/CCS bested Cascade Christian 28-22 on Dec. 4 before falling 63-16 to Cascade (Leavenworth) on Monday. The Lions (1-2) take on Bridgeport on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Othello

Boys (0-2)

Both of Othello’s losses have been by two possessions, first losing 61-56 to Omak in the opener Dec. 3 before a 62-56 road loss to Connell on Saturday. The Huskies begin CWAC play Friday at home against Toppenish. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Girls (1-1)

Othello began the 2024-25 season with a home win over Omak, defeating the Pioneers 48-44, but lost 52-45 in a non-league matchup to Connell on Saturday. The Huskies host Toppenish in the first CWAC game of the season Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Quincy

Boys (3-0)

The Jacks have swept through their early-season non-league slate, picking up wins over La Salle (80-69), Lakeside (9 Mile Falls) (55-49) and Kittitas (61-45). Quincy begins its CWAC schedule Friday with a home game against Prosser. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Girls (1-2)

Following losses to Omak (44-26) and Lakeside (9 Mile Falls) (59-25) to start the season, Quincy earned its first victory this winter with a narrow defeat of Kittitas on Tuesday, winning 37-36 to improve to 1-2. Quincy hosts Prosser on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Royal

Boys (0-0)

Royal begins the 2024-25 season at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic in Boise, Idaho. The Knights took on Melba (Idaho) in the first round of the tournament Thursday night, but scores were not available in time for press deadline.

Girls (2-0)

The Knights have gotten off to a strong start this season, earning non-league wins over both Warden and Riverside, defeating the Cougars 50-33 on Dec. 3 and the Rams 77-51 on Tuesday. Royal hosts Connell in its South Central Athletic Conference opener Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

Soap Lake

Boys (0-3)

The Eagles fell to 0-3 with Tuesday’s road loss against Manson (2B), falling 66-17 to the Trojans. Soap Lake also suffered losses to Republic, 53-37 on Dec. 3, and Oroville, 70-43 on Dec. 6 in the league opener. After Thursday’s road game against Pateros, Soap Lake hosts Waterville-Mansfield on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls (1-2)

In between losses to Republic (38-27 on Dec. 3) and Manson (32-29 on Tuesday), the Eagles took down Oroville 56-18 at home Dec. 6 in a Central Washington B matchup. Soap Lake traveled to Pateros on Thursday night and hosts Waterville-Mansfield on Friday at 6 p.m.

Wahluke

Boys (2-2)

The Warriors evened their record at 2-2 with Tuesday’s 66-56 home win over Kiona-Benton, snapping a two-game losing skid that featured losses to Tri-Cities Prep (81-52) and Wapato (84-56). Wahluke defeated White Swan 49-41 in the season opener Nov. 30.

Wahluke travels to Zillah on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.

Girls (0-4)

Wahluke fell to 0-4 with Tuesday’s 54-14 home loss to Kiona-Benton. The Warriors travel to Zillah on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. for another SCAC matchup.

Warden

Boys (0-3)

The Cougars are still seeking their first win of the season, having lost to Naches Valley (74-62), Cle Elum (66-51) and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (76-54) through the non-league slate. Warden travels to La Salle on Friday at 7 p.m.

Girls (0-4)

Warden dropped to 0-4 with Saturday’s 53-25 loss to Lind-Ritzville/Sprague; the Cougars have lost to Royal (50-33), Naches Valley (58-26) and Cle Elum (61-29) through the early weeks of the season. Their next matchup is a road game against River View on Dec. 20.

Wilson Creek

Boys (2-3)

After an 0-3 start to the season, the Devils have picked up wins over Easton (35-8) on Dec. 6 and Columbia (Stevens) (66-45) on Tuesday. Wilson Creek returns to the floor Friday at home against Entiat in a Central Washington B matchup.

Girls (2-2)

The Devils have alternated losses wins so far this season, first falling 63-15 to Lake Roosevelt (2B) on Dec. 2 before responding with a 30-27 win over MLCA/CCS on Dec. 3, then rallying from a 61-32 loss to Odessa on Dec. 5 with a 57-21 win over Easton on Dec. 6. Wilson Creek takes on Entiat on Friday at 6 p.m.

    Soap Lake junior Mylee Dana, left, lays the ball up toward the rim during a game against Republic on Dec. 3.
  

    Soap Lake junior Mylee Dana, left, lays the ball up toward the rim during a game against Republic on Dec. 3.
  

    Soap Lake junior Mylee Dana, left, lays the ball up toward the rim during a game against Republic on Dec. 3.