BASIN HOOPS REPORT: league play carries on

COLUMBIA BASIN — Local squads around the Basin have all entered the teeth of league play by now, with district tournament beginning in less than a month.

See below for a look at where Basin squads stand in the middle of January. All scores and records are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Boys 

ACH snapped a four-game skid with a Jan. 5 78-29 win over Chesterton but dropped Saturday’s game against Mary Walker 65-38 and Tuesday’s 49-43 game against Wilbur-Creston-Keller. The Warriors (3-9) host Odessa on Friday, then travel to Wellpinit on Saturday before hosting Curlew on Tuesday night.

Girls

With wins over Chesterton (74-40 on Jan. 5), Mary Walker (63-19 on Saturday) and Wilbur-Creston-Keller (47-42 on Tuesday), the Warriors (7-4) have won six of their past seven games. ACH will look to continue their winning stretch with upcoming games against Odessa on Friday at 6 p.m., Wellpinit on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Curlew on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Ephrata

Boys

The Tigers opened the past week with a win over Ellensburg, a 55-53 road win Jan. 5 where senior Cody Black scored 21 points, then turned around the next day to defeat Othello 66-51 at home Saturday. Ephrata’s three-game win streak was snapped Tuesday in a road Central Washington Athletic Conference game to Grandview on Tuesday, falling 64-44. Ephrata (7-7) holds a 3-2 record in CWAC games this season, and hosts Selah on Friday at 7 p.m. and Prosser on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Girls

After an 8-3 start to the year, the Tigers have gone 1-3 on the court since returning from the holiday break; after a 51-50 loss to East Valley (Yakima) on Jan. 2, Ephrata lost 64-21 to Ellensburg on Jan. 5 and 80-46 to Grandview on the road Tuesday. Ephrata’s lone win came Saturday against Othello, surged by a 28-point third quarter against the Huskies. The Tigers host Selah on Friday and Prosser on Tuesday, with both games tipping off at 5:30 p.m.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Boys

LRS’ loss skid reached five games with a Jan. 5 loss to Kettle Falls (65-35) and a Saturday loss to Reardan (71-46), dropping the Broncos to 6-7 overall this winter and 3-4 in the Northeast 2B league. The Broncos will look to snap their losing streak with upcoming matchups against Northwest Christian (Colbert) on Friday, Jenkins (Chewelah) on Saturday and Davenport on Tuesday.

Girls

The Broncos picked up their fourth league win of the season with the Jan. 5 68-65 defeat of Kettle Falls, but lost the next day on the road to Reardan in a 44-43 game. LRS (7-6) stands at 4-3 in the Northeast 2B league, and hosts Northwest Christian (Colbert) on Friday and Jenkins (Chewelah) on Saturday, with [games tipping off at 6 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

Moses Lake

Boys

Moses Lake dropped both of its Columbia Basin Big 9 contests last week, losing 68-65 on the road to Eisenhower on Jan. 5 and 85-54 to West Valley (Yakima) on Saturday. The losses moved the Mavericks to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the Big 9; Moses Lake has another road game this weekend, traveling to Eastmont on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Girls

By splitting last week’s games – a 69-57 road win against Eisenhower on Jan. 5 and a 43-34 road loss to West Valley (Yakima) on Saturday, Moses Lake stands at 6-8 overall and 3-2 in the CBBN, behind Davis, West Valley and Eastmont but ahead of Eisenhower, Sunnyside and Wenatchee. Moses Lake travels to Eastmont on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

MLCA/CCS

Boys 

Senior Jonah Robertson led the Lions with 14 points in Tuesday’s 54-49 win over Riverside Christian, where the Lions came back from a one-point halftime deficit to improve to 4-0 in Central Washington B league games this winter. MLCA/CCS (8-1) travels to Waterville-Mansfield on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Soap Lake on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls

After six-straight losses to open the year, the MLCA/CCS Lions have now picked up back-to-back wins after Tuesday’s 38-21 road win against Riverside Christian and a Jan. 4 win against Cascade Christian. The Lions travel to Waterville-Mansfield on Saturday at 4 p.m. and to Soap Lake on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Othello

Boys

Othello opened the weekend with an 88-49 home loss to league-leading Prosser on Jan. 5, and with a road game against Ephrata the following day, lost to the Tigers 66-51 on Saturday. With Tuesday’s 77-58 home loss to East Valley (Yakima) the Huskies dropped to 5-8 this season. Still seeking its first CWAC win, Othello traveled to Ellensburg Thursday night, though scores were not available by press deadline. 

Girls

After losses to Prosser (73-36 on Jan. 5) and Ephrata (67-42 on Saturday) over the weekend, the Huskies (1-12) fell in another CWAC contest to East Valley, a 51-45 loss Tuesday. Results from Othello’s Thursday road contest against Ellensburg were not available in time for press deadline.

Quincy

Boys

Since a Dec. 28 loss to Columbia (Burbank), the Quincy Jackrabbits have been the victors of their past four games, including Wednesday’s 61-53 road win against Cashmere. Quincy (9-4) owns a 6-1 record in the Caribou Trail League, including two wins over second-place Chelan (10-3). The Jacks travel to Royal on Saturday at 5 p.m., then host Cascade (Leavenworth) and Chelan next week; both games tip off at 7:15 p.m.

Girls

Quincy picked up its second CTL win of the season Friday against Omak, winning 42-40 over the Pioneers on their home floor. The Jackrabbits picked up another win on Saturday, defeating Liberty Bell in a non-league matchup 54-48 before losing to Cashmere 40-31 Wednesday. Quincy (4-10) travels to Royal at 3:30 p.m. Saturday before hosting Cascade and Chelan on Tuesday and Thursday of next week, respectively.

Royal

Boys

The 8-5 Knights lead the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with a 2-0 record in league contests this winter, having picked up a 61-47 road win against Connell on Tuesday. Royal travels to Mattawa for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Wahluke Friday night, then hosts Quincy at 5 p.m. Saturday before playing College Place on Tuesday.

Girls

After a 49-31 home loss to Zillah on Jan. 5, Royal’s 55-36 road win over Connell improved the Knights to 2-0 in the SCAC (East), leaving them tied with College Place atop the league. The 5-6 Knights travel to Wahluke for a 6 p.m. tipoff Friday before hosting Quincy at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Next week, Royal hosts College Place at 6 p.m.

Soap Lake

Boys

After a 91-72 loss to Riverside on Jan. 5, the Eagles responded with a 91-29 win over Entiat Tuesday night at home. The 6-4 Eagles, who hold a 2-2 record in league games, will host Riverside Christian on Friday at 6 p.m., then host MLCA/CCS on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls

The winners of five of their last seven games, Soap Lake picked up a 47-22 home win over Etiat on Tuesday after Saturday’s 45-33 road loss to Manson. The Eagles (6-4) lead the Central Washington B league with a perfect 4-0 record in league contests this winter and host Riverside Christian on Friday at 6 p.m. and MLCA/CCS on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Wahluke

Boys

Tuesday’s 60-49 loss to Kiona-Benton snapped a seven-game win streak for the 11-2 Warriors, who sit at 2-1 in the SCAC (East). Tuesday’s loss came days after Wahluke picked up wins over College Place (74-31) and Naches Valley (60-35) over the weekend. After Friday’s league game against Royal, the Warriors travel to Connell at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Girls

Wahluke (2-10) suffered losses to College Place (57-31) and Naches Valley (62-19) over the weekend before Tuesday’s 55-39 loss to Kiona-Benton. Still seeking their first SCAC (East) win, the Warriors host Royal on Friday at 2 p.m. and Connell on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Warden

Boys

The Cougars’ lone outing of the past week was the Jan. 5 90-37 road loss to Columbia (Burbank), dropping Warden to 4-12 this winter and 1-1 in the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference (East). Warden continues league play with a home game against River View on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls

The 11-3 Cougars picked up their second EWAC (East) win of the 2023-24 season, defeating Columbia (Burbank) 62-37 on Jan. 5 to improve to 2-0 in league games. Warden hosts River View on Friday at 6 p.m.

Wilson Creek

Boys

Wilson Creek suffered a 52-44 loss to the Ephrata C-team Monday, dropping to 2-4 overall this season. The Devils, 2-1 in league games, hosted Thorp Thursday night but scores were not available by press deadline; Wilson Creek hosts Entiat on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Cascade Christian at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Girls

The 4-2 Devils won their lone outing over the past week, defeating the Ephrata C-team 57-10 Monday evening. Wilson Creek (4-2) hosts Entiat on Friday at 6 p.m. and Cascade Christian on Monday at 6 p.m.

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

    Royal’s 55-36 win over Connell improved the Knights to 2-0 in South Central Athletic Conference games this year, tied with College Place to lead the league.
  

    Wahluke’s seven-game win streak was snapped with Tuesday’s 60-49 loss to Kiona-Benton, though the Warriors still hold a 2-1 record in league games.
  

    The Othello Huskies lost back-to-back games over the weekend, falling to league-leading Prosser at home Jan. 5 and Ephrata on the road Saturday.
  

    The Ephrata Tigers have won five of their past seven games, improving to 7-7 and holding a 3-2 record in Central Washington Athletic Conference games.