BASIN HOOPS REPORT: Local squads begin postseason play

COLUMBIA BASIN — District playoffs across the state begin this weekend, with many Basin squads closing out their regular seasons in the coming days. See below for a look at where teams stand ahead of district playoffs.

All scores and standings are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Boys

The Warriors closed out the regular season Saturday with a 63-39 road win over Republic, finishing with a 9-10 overall record and a 7-5 record in Northeast 1B games. ACH, the winners of six of their last seven games, faces off against Columbia (Stevens) in the opening round of the Northeast 1B district tournament Saturday at 6 p.m. on their home court, with the winner going on to play Northport on Wednesday.

Girls

After a 12-6 regular season, including a 10-2 record in league games ACH enters the postseason with a first-round bye, having finished tied for third in the Northeast 1B league. ACH ended the regular season Saturday afternoon with a 53-34 win over Republic, its fourth straight win. The Warriors will host the winner of Friday’s first-round game between Chesterton and Northport on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Ephrata

Boys

After a 42-38 loss to Ellensburg Friday night the Tigers responded with a 61-58 road win over Othello the next day, led by 28 points from senior Hans Roberts in the win. In their home finale against Grandview on Tuesday, Ephrata fell 54-49 to the Greyhounds. Ephrata (9-11) travels to Selah on Friday, and has already secured its berth for next week’s district tournament.

Girls

Similar to the Ephrata boys team, the Ephrata girls responded to Friday’s loss to Ellensburg with a win over Othello, defeating the Huskies 49-28 on Saturday, before falling 58-51 to Grandview on Tuesday. Ephrata (11-9) closes the regular season Friday night against Selah and has already clinched the No. 6 seed in next week’s Central Washington Athletic Conference tournament.

Tiger senior Addison Mills scored 22 points in Saturday’s win over Othello, crossing the 1,000-point mark during her four-year career.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Boys

The Broncos finished the regular season with a 9-12 record, going 6-8 in league games to set up a matchup with Northwest Christian (Colbert) in the Northeast 2B district tournament Saturday. 

LRS closes out the regular season earlier this week with a 54-49 win over Upper Columbia on Monday and a 71-48 road loss to Colfax on Tuesday.

Girls

With an 11-9 record and an 8-6 mark in league games this winter, the LRS Broncos will take on Northwest Christian in the quarterfinals of this week’s Northeast 2B district tournament. LRS won its lone matchup against the Crusaders this season, a 59-55 home win Jan. 12. 

Moses Lake

Boys

Moses Lake picked up its third league win of the season Friday with a 65-62 road win over Sunnyside but fell the next day at home to Eisenhower in a 74-69 loss. The Mavs (5-12) host West Valley (Yakima) Friday night and close out the regular season next weekend against Eastmont.

Girls

The Mavericks improved their league record with back-to-back wins over Sunnyside and Eisenhower last week, defeating the Grizzlies 62-31 on Friday and the Cadets 59-23 at home Saturday. With a 6-4 mark in Big 9 games this winter, the Mavs stand at fourth place in the league behind Davis, West Valley and Eastmont.

MLCA/CCS

Boys

MLCA/CCS’ win streak increased to 14 games after back-to-back wins over Riverside Christian and Pateros on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, defeating the Crusaders 52-41 and the Billygoats 66-34. Against Riverside Christian, the Lions (15-1) were led by sophomore Johnny Ferguson with 15 points and senior Jonah Robertson with 14 points.

Girls

The Lions won their third league game of the year Monday at home against Riverside Christian, defeating the Crusaders 42-37 before falling to Pateros the next day. MLCA/CCS ended the regular season on the road Thursday night against Cascade Christian, though scores were not available in time for press deadline.

Othello

Boys

After picking up their first CWAC win of the year Jan. 24 against Ellensburg, the Huskies fell to league-leading Prosser on Friday, Ephrata on Saturday and East Valley (Yakima) on Tuesday. Othello traveled to Grandview Thursday night and hosts Ellensburg Friday night.

Girls

Othello lost both of its most recent outings, first a 49-28 game to Ephrata on Saturday and a 46-20 loss to East Valley on Tuesday. After Thursday’s road game against Grandview, the Huskies will end their season with Friday’s home game against Ellensburg.

Quincy

Boys

The Jackrabbits clinched the Caribou Trail League with last week’s 70-49 defeat of Cashmere, which improved Quincy to 13-6 overall and 9-2 in the CTL. Quincy’s final game of the regular season was Thursday night against Cascade (Leavenworth), though results from the game were unavailable in time for press deadline.

Quincy hosts Cashmere in the first round of the CTL district tournament Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Girls

Quincy lost in games against Cashmere (59-16) Thursday and Liberty Bell (41-31) Saturday, setting up a regular-season finale Thursday night against Cascade. The Jacks (5-15) are locked into the No. 4 seed in next week’s CTL district tournament, where they will face the winner of Thursday’s game between Cashmere and Chelan in the first round Wednesday.

Royal

Boys

Royal’s win streak was stretched to 10 straight wins with Tuesday’s 56-52 defeat of Connell, improving the Knights to 15-5 overall and 6-0 in South Central Athletic Conference (East) games. The win also clinched the league title for the Knights, who will be a No. 1 seed in next week’s SCAC district tournament.

Girls

Coming off a road loss to Wapato, the Knights responded with a 55-25 win over Connell Tuesday, winning the SCAC (East) title with a 7-0 mark ahead of Friday’s home game against Wahluke. Royal earned a No. 1 seed in next week’s district tournament, where they will play the winner of the play-in game Tuesday.

Soap Lake

Boys

Since a narrow loss to league-leading MLCA/CCS on Jan. 16, the Eagles have won six straight games including Tuesday’s 81-30 defeat of Cascade Christian at home. Soap Lake (12-5) holds an 8-3 record in league contests this season and closes out the regular season on the road against Thorp on Friday.

Girls

The 11-7 Eagles won three of their final four games to end the regular season, first defeating Wilson Creek 55-21 on Jan. 22, Riverside Christian 61-19 on Friday and Cascade Christian 62-22 on Tuesday. The Central Washington B district tournament begins Tuesday night, with seeds yet to be determined.

Wahluke

Boys

Since losing back-to-back games against Wapato (62-53 on Jan. 20) and Zillah (78-55 on Jan. 23), the Warriors have strung together three straight wins against Toppenish (60-47 on Jan. 24), College Place (84-43 on Friday) and Kiona-Benton (57-53 on Tuesday). Wahluke (13-5) ends the regular season Friday Royal.

Girls

With recent losses to College Place and Kiona-Benton, the Warriors will be the No. 5 seed in next week’s SCAC district tournament, playing in the play-in game against the No. 4 seed out of the SCAC West.

Warden

Boys

After earning their third league win of the year in a 79-40 win over Walla Walla Valley on Jan. 23, the Cougars fell to Columbia (Burbank) Friday and Tri-Cities Prep on Saturday, dropping their league record to 3-4. After Thursday’s regular-season finale against River View, the Cougars will play against a yet-to-be-determined opponent in next week’s Eastern Washington Athletic Conference district tournament.

Girls

The Cougars recorded their sixth and seventh league wins last week, defeating Columbia 64-42 on Friday and Tri-Cities Prep 67-24 on Saturday to reach 17-3 on the year. Warden will be a No. 1 seed in next week’s EWAC district tournament, hosting the No. 4 seed out of the EWAC West. 

Cougar senior Lauryn Madsen became the program’s all-time leading scorer during a win against Walla Walla Valley last week, crossing the previous mark of 1,574.

Wilson Creek

Boys

The 5-5 Devils snapped a four-game losing streak with Tuesday’s 50-37 win over Thorp, improving to 5-8 overall. Following Thursday’s road game against Pateros, the Devils will end the regular season at home against Thorp on Saturday.

Girls

Wilson Creek has won three of its past five games, with wins over Cascade Christian, MLCA/CCS and Riverside Christian but suffering losses to Soap Lake and Waterville-Mansfield. The Devils traveled to Pateros Thursday for the team’s regular-season finale.

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline earned a first-round bye in the Northeast 1B district tournament, playing the winner of Chesterton and Northport on Tuesday.
  

    Moses Lake picked up its third league win of the year last week, defeating Sunnyside 65-62 on Friday.
  

    The Quincy Jackrabbits will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s Caribou Trail League district tournament, playing Cashmere in the first round.