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CALEB PEREZ

Staff Writer

Recent Stories

Huskies go 2-1 over the weekend against Northwestern
March 30, 2026 5:10 p.m.

Huskies go 2-1 over the weekend against Northwestern

SEATTLE — The University of Washington Huskies (12-15) found success on the diamond over the weekend after hosting a three-game series against the Northwestern Wildcats (9-14-1). The Huskies finished the stretch 2-1 with a 7-2 victory Friday, 9-10 loss Saturday and a 7-2 victory Sunday, according to reports from UW Athletics.

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 30 – April 6, 2026
March 30, 2026 4 a.m.

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 30 – April 6, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — Students head into spring break this week, but spring sports continue to pick up as local athletes continue to get their season underway. Check out where your local teams will be headed this week.

Huskies best Jacks in doubleheader
March 28, 2026 4:08 p.m.

Huskies best Jacks in doubleheader

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies earned two solid victories in a doubleheader against the Quincy Jackrabbits Thursday afternoon to start their first games of league play this season. The Huskies won their games 13-0 and 20-3. “I think what helped us out the most is that we stayed on top of each other and really just brought each other together,” said Huskies senior Alizay Pruneda. “Every mistake, every bad thought, we just flushed it down the toilet, moved on, and we got better.”

Wildcats earn walk off victory in high scoring battle against Eastern Oregon
March 26, 2026 3:57 p.m.

Wildcats earn walk off victory in high scoring battle against Eastern Oregon

ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington University Wildcats (9-15) completed their high scoring battle against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (8-20) in the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off single from Lance Mittelman Tuesday afternoon to win 15-14, according to a statement by CWU Athletics. “It always feels good to win a game,” said Wildcats Head Coach Desi Storey. “To be able to come home for the first time, and put together some positives, and come away with the W is good.”

Vikings split doubleheader with Wenatchee Valley
March 26, 2026 10:55 a.m.

Vikings split doubleheader with Wenatchee Valley

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (8-12) split their home doubleheader against Wenatchee Valley in the first game of conference play for the season. The Vikings fell 3-8 in the first game but came back to win 7-5 in the second. “It was nice to see the response in game two,” said Vikings Head Coach Chase Tunstall. “Karter Wilson came out and gave us his best outing of the year so far.”

Tigers recognized for achievements in state competitions
March 26, 2026 4 a.m.

Tigers recognized for achievements in state competitions

EPHRATA — State competitors were recognized for their achievements during the Ephrata School District board meeting Monday evening. Several teams throughout the district qualified and competed in state competitions recently, and the start of the meeting was dedicated to honoring them.

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 26 – April 2, 2026
March 26, 2026 12:35 a.m.

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 26 – April 2, 2026

MOSES LAKE — Though March Madness has wrapped up for Washington college teams, there are still plenty of teams in the state competing in spring athletics ahead of their break. See where your favorite team is heading this week.

Knights secure road victory over Cougars
March 25, 2026 5:13 p.m.

Knights secure road victory over Cougars

WARDEN — The Royal Knights (3-1-2) earned a 5-2 road victory against the Warden Cougars (2-4) in a South Central Athletic Conference matchup Tuesday evening. Knights Head Coach Jens Jensen said this win was great in getting the team back on track after a tough stretch of games prior.

District sets timeline for Ephrata High roof project
March 24, 2026 6:37 p.m.

District sets timeline for Ephrata High roof project

EPHRATA — A timeframe on the roof replacement at Ephrata High School was discussed at the Ephrata School District board meeting Monday evening.

Cougars sweep Eagles and LMU in weekend matches
March 24, 2026 5:47 p.m.

Cougars sweep Eagles and LMU in weekend matches

PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougars earned a pair of team victories as they defended their home court over the weekend, sweeping both the Eastern Washington Eagles and Loyola Marymount University.

Huskies sweep Iowa on the road
March 24, 2026 5:40 p.m.

Huskies sweep Iowa on the road

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Washington women’s tennis team bounced back after its first loss of the season with a sweeping 4-0 victory over Iowa Sunday morning. The Huskies improve to 13-1 on the season with a 4-1 mark in the Big Ten.

GCHD hosting MMR vaccine clinic today
March 24, 2026 4 a.m.

GCHD hosting MMR vaccine clinic today

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District is hosting a no-cost measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine drive-thru clinic Tuesday from 1-4 p.m. in partnership with Care-A-Van in the GCHD parking lot. This was created in response to the confirmation of measles within Grant County.

Eagles open season with 17 PRs and multiple event wins
March 23, 2026 4:19 p.m.

Eagles open season with 17 PRs and multiple event wins

SPOKANE — The Eastern Washington Eagles opened the outdoor track and field season at the Sam Adams Classic at Whitworth University, where the team recorded 17 new personal records – nine on the men’s side and eight from the women – according to a statement by EWU Athletics. Both men’s and women’s teams took first at the event with 72 points for the men and 69 points for the women.

Cougars get the season started on the course
March 21, 2026 1:10 p.m.

Cougars get the season started on the course

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars got the golf season started off with a jamboree where they invited Okanogan, Cascade, Chelan and Riverside. Cougars boys Head Coach Tim Carlberg said it was a good way for the team to get warmed up against some familiar opponents as they prepare for the start of their season.

Lions take on Mavs C-Team to open softball season
March 20, 2026 8:43 p.m.

Lions take on Mavs C-Team to open softball season

MOSES LAKE — Two young Moses Lake teams faced off in their first games of the season Wednesday afternoon with the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions varsity team taking on the Moses Lake Mavericks C-team. After the day’s events, the Mavs claimed 18-5 and 15-11 victories. “It was a very intense game, we were playing a varsity team today, and I was a little stressed out on how we were going to do, but we ended up finishing pretty well,” said Mavs C-Team Head Coach Jazzmen Rose.

Jacks 5th grade basketball team earns third in state
March 20, 2026 4 a.m.

Jacks 5th grade basketball team earns third in state

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits fifth-grade team finished third in the state tournament in Spokane to conclude their basketball season. The young team worked hard since October, and those efforts were rewarded as they finished as one of the top three teams in the state.

BBCC awards tenure to 4 faculty
March 20, 2026 2:09 a.m.

BBCC awards tenure to 4 faculty

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College awarded tenure to four faculty members during the March 19 board meeting. Cade Levine, Melissa Heaps, Mitchell Valdivia and Justin Henley were all on their third probationary year and, after consideration from the board, were given tenure.

Huskies reach 13-game win streak after wins over Maryland and North Dakota
March 19, 2026 5:46 p.m.

Huskies reach 13-game win streak after wins over Maryland and North Dakota

SEATTLE — The University of Washington Huskies softball team (23-6) had a strong showing over the last week of competition as they extended themselves to a 13-game winning streak. The Huskies faced Maryland last weekend in a set of three games and North Dakota Wednesday evening. In Friday’s game, Maryland was the first on the board after Anna McGowan hit an RBI double in the opening inning. The Huskies responded in the bottom of the second, with a two-RBI single from Alexis DeBoer that scored Melody Acevedo and Sophi Mazzola. Giselle Alvarez slammed a home run to put the Huskies up 4-1.

Basin teams begin track and field season at Ephrata Ice Breaker
March 18, 2026 5:17 p.m.

Basin teams begin track and field season at Ephrata Ice Breaker

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers hosted 12 teams, including the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions, Othello Huskies, Soap Lake Eagles and Wahluke Warriors for the Ephrata Ice Breaker. The first track and field meet of the season worked to set the tone for the season as newer athletes got a taste of competition, and the returners had an opportunity to make a strong start to their season.

Tigers remain confident after tough start to the season
March 18, 2026 4:48 p.m.

Tigers remain confident after tough start to the season

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers (0-3) hosted Wenatchee Tuesday afternoon, where they fell 0-16 on the pitch. Tigers Head Coach Lesa Trevino said after facing 4A teams for their first three games of the season, the team is better prepared for when they begin playing in league.

Hiking Trails in the Columbia Basin
March 18, 2026 4 a.m.

Hiking Trails in the Columbia Basin

COLUMBIA BASIN — Eastern Washington boasts a variety of different hiking trails to enjoy as the weather begins to warm up. Below are five hiking trails in the Basin to try out this year. Remember while out hiking to stick to the hiking trails, clean up after your pets and yourself to keep the areas beautiful.

Examining how agriculture could switch to renewable energy
March 18, 2026 3:05 a.m.

Examining how agriculture could switch to renewable energy

MOSES LAKE — The topic of energy production is something that has become something of increasing interest in recent years as new technology is developed. David Funk, President and Founder of Zero Emissions Northwest, said his goal is to inform people about green energy sources that can save long-term money.

Knights tennis bests Naches Valley
March 17, 2026 4:11 p.m.

Knights tennis bests Naches Valley

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights battled against Naches Valley on the court Monday afternoon with the Knights boys earning a 5-0 victory while the girls battled to go 3-2 on the court. With another early season meet concluded, the Knights prepare for a busy regular season ahead.

Tigers, Jacks and Cougars kick off baseball season after snow delay
March 16, 2026 6:52 p.m.

Tigers, Jacks and Cougars kick off baseball season after snow delay

EPHRATA — The Quincy Jackrabbits and Warden Cougars joined the Ephrata Tigers at home for a baseball tournament to start the season over the weekend. The three teams had the competition delayed after a snowstorm Friday and got back on track Saturday morning, playing in five-inning games.

Tigers best Eagles in home opener
March 14, 2026 2:05 p.m.

Tigers best Eagles in home opener

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers and Soap Lake Eagles started their soccer seasons off on a windy Thursday evening in Ephrata where the Tigers earned a 9-2 victory. Both teams are coming into the season with high expectations for themselves as they look ahead to the coming months of competition. “It was a good first game, we came out trying to control possession and control the tempo of the game. We knew that would get us goals,” said Tigers Head Coach Ivan Garay. “It took us a little bit to get there, but once we got the first one, we were able to keep them going.”

Weather forces delays in Basin sports
March 13, 2026 12:11 p.m.

Weather forces delays in Basin sports

MOSES LAKE — Several sporting events across the Basin have been postponed this weekend due to rain and snow causing conditions on the field to be unsuitable for play. Ephrata Tigers baseball Head Coach David Tempel was out shoveling snow Friday morning to keep the field in the best condition possible to resume a planned tournament Saturday. “This morning I got up and saw all the snow and got on the phone with my AD. We made the decision fairly quickly that games would be canceled today. We've alerted all the teams involved. We're going to shoot to try and get them all in tomorrow,” Tempel said.

ACH anticipates growth after successful basketball season
March 13, 2026 3 a.m.

ACH anticipates growth after successful basketball season

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (19-6) girls basketball team found success on the court this season as they made a late push into the postseason. The Warriors drove all the way to the Round of 12 before falling to Lummi Nation.

Rock Bottom Rocker sustains windstorm damage
March 12, 2026 4:38 p.m.

Rock Bottom Rocker sustains windstorm damage

SOAP LAKE — The Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry sustained serious damage from the windstorm that occurred Wednesday night, with multiple enclosures damaged or destroyed. Despite the damage sustained, Shawna Kluge, president of Rock Bottom Rocker, said all the animals are safe.

Huskies build up new tennis players and strengthen returners
March 12, 2026 4:15 a.m.

Huskies build up new tennis players and strengthen returners

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies have returned to the tennis courts as they prepare to play in another successful season following the boys’ top-three finish and the girls finishing as the Central Washington Athletic Conference league champs. Coaches Caleb and Priscilla Tovar said they are ready to bring up a new group of dedicated players for the 2026 season. “They definitely competed,” said Caleb. “We lost quite a few seniors on both sides. It’s a matter of rebuilding now, but traditionally around here, we get kind of lucky and a lot of kids enjoy playing and you get younger siblings that have played at least a little bit before.” This season was the biggest start to the season yet, as the coaches said 108 players signed up to join the team.

Wilson Creek partners with Odessa for spring sports
March 12, 2026 4:15 a.m.

Wilson Creek partners with Odessa for spring sports

WILSON CREEK — The Wilson Creek Devils have partnered with the Odessa Tigers for spring sports this year. Despite wearing different school colors, the Devils will be competing in baseball, golf and track as they continue their athletics through the end of the sports season. “We’ve had combined sports for the last few years,” said Devils Athletic Director Loni Koziol. “Before going to Odessa we were combined with Soap Lake, it’s a pretty common practice in our small 1B schools just for numbers, and Odessa was the school that was the closest and had the availability to take our kids.” Koziol said the ability to combine athletics with other schools in the area allows the students in smaller schools to have the opportunity to play in more sports since they don’t always have the numbers to make a full team. Besides that, Wilson Creek doesn’t have a baseball field, a track or a golf course that the students would be able to utilize to participate in these sports from home.

Huskies aim for a return to state in 2026
March 12, 2026 4:10 a.m.

Huskies aim for a return to state in 2026

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies are gearing up for the start of the 2026 baseball season after concluding the last season with a third-place finish in state. This year, Head Coach Sonny Garza said the Huskies are preparing to get into the state tournament once again. “Great group of kids last year,” Garza said. “They began playing for the team and for the person next to them, which was really good, and I think that’s really what helped us have a successful season.” The Huskies were a dominant force in the Central Washington Athletic Conference last season, finishing with a 23-6 record. The Huskies entered the 2A District 5 tournament as the second seed where they earned victories over East Valley and Ellensburg before falling to Selah in the district finals to take second in District 5.

Returning athletes look to make strides for Lions track season
March 12, 2026 4:05 a.m.

Returning athletes look to make strides for Lions track season

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions are preparing to get their track and field season underway. After the successes from last season, Head Coach Dan Bishop said there is a group of returning athletes who are ready to make a name for themselves. “We’ve got several state veterans that were really good athletes (last season) and several that are just starting out and trying to find their way and decide which events are going to work out for them,” said Bishop. “We have a good mix of veterans and beginners.” Last year, he said the Lions sent seven of their athletes to the state tournament. Returning junior Amelia Shopbell made it onto the podium by earning sixth in javelin with a throw of 101 feet, 4 inches (30.89 meters).

Lions add softball to the schedule for spring athletics
March 12, 2026 4 a.m.

Lions add softball to the schedule for spring athletics

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions are starting their first softball season at the high school level this year. Under the leadership of Head Coach Todd Gregory and Assistant Coach Ty Whitaker, the team hopes to grow this season to build the program into the future. “They look promising and I’m hoping that we can put in a good season and prove (ourselves) by the end of the year to where we can have a winning season and make some noise in the postseason,” said Gregory. The building of the program began last year at the middle school level after getting a group of girls together for a short season, said the coach. With their success in making that team, the Lions transitioned to getting the numbers to play in a high school season.

ACH gets back to the diamond with hopes to return to state
March 12, 2026 3:20 a.m.

ACH gets back to the diamond with hopes to return to state

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors baseball team is ready to get back onto the baseball field this spring after finishing their basketball season in the final round of the state tournament. For baseball, the Warriors have set their sights on returning to state after finishing third last season. “We’re excited,” said Warriors Head Coach Hunter Lee. “Obviously it’s tough to make the transition when you’re a (small) school like us. When you’re playing on the final weekend, it’s a very quick transition to go from all in on basketball on Saturday, then Monday, you’re in a completely different sport. It’s hard to make that transition, but it’s what you get for being good.” The Warriors had a very successful 2025 season, ending with a 19-4 record and advancing through districts to enter the state tournament as the number three seed.

Basin Sports Schedule: March 11-21, 2026
March 11, 2026 12:30 a.m.

Basin Sports Schedule: March 11-21, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — Spring sports are beginning this week for high school teams around the basin. See where the local athletes will be getting their season started.

UW prepares for Big Ten Tourney run
March 10, 2026 5:11 p.m.

UW prepares for Big Ten Tourney run

MOSES LAKE — The University of Washington Huskies (15-16) are heading for the Big Ten tournament in Chicago where they will compete against the University of Southern California in the second round. The Huskies are coming off a close loss last weekend against the Oregon Ducks in the regular season finale.

GALLERY: WIAA State Basketball tournament gallery
March 9, 2026 4:36 p.m.

GALLERY: WIAA State Basketball tournament gallery

MOSES LAKE — Multiple basin teams battled among the best players in the state during the state basketball tournament over the weekend.

Wildcats earn top seed in NCAA West to host regionals
March 9, 2026 4:24 p.m.

Wildcats earn top seed in NCAA West to host regionals

BELLINGHAM — The Central Washington University Wildcats (23-6) concluded their run in the GNAC Tournament Friday during the semifinal round when they fell 74-79 to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (19-14). Despite the loss, CWU earned the top seed in the 2026 NCAA Division II West Region Tournament. “Our team showed a lot of fight and played hard,” said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson. “I’m so proud of our fight and effort, but we didn’t have enough execution in finishing possessions with rebounds, making paint shots and limiting our fouls. Credit to MSUB, they played a great game and never let us pull ahead.”

Lions finish strong to earn fourth in state
March 9, 2026 3:15 a.m.

Lions finish strong to earn fourth in state

SPOKANE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions concluded their basketball season Saturday morning after earning fourth place in the 1B state tournament after a 51-49 victory over Liberty Christian. The matchup was tight from start to finish as both teams gave their all to finish out the season.

ACH finishes fifth in 1B state tourney
March 7, 2026 4:59 p.m.

ACH finishes fifth in 1B state tourney

SPOKANE — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors boys basketball team concluded their season in fifth place at the 1B state tournament. Though the Warriors took losses in the semifinals and finals, the team held their heads up as the hard work from their season was rewarded with a trophy to add to the school’s case.

Lions best Columbia Adventist in semis
March 6, 2026 10:05 p.m.

Lions best Columbia Adventist in semis

SPOKANE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions move on from the state semifinals after a stunning 57-43 comeback victory over the Columbia Adventist Kodiaks. Following their victory, the Lions prepare for the fourth-place game Saturday morning against Liberty Christian.

Huskies win regular season finale over Ducks
March 6, 2026 3 a.m.

Huskies win regular season finale over Ducks

EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Washington Huskies (20-9) capped off regular season play with a 70-69 road victory over the University of Oregon Ducks (20-11). With this victory under their belts, the Huskies march into postseason play. UW earned an early lead due in part from the efforts of Sayvia Sellers from the Huskies who came out of the first half shooting 6-for-6 from the floor and knocking down four three-pointers. The Ducks on the other hand started slow, shooting 28.6% and turning the ball over four times in the first quarter. Things started to swing in Oregon’s favor by the second quarter as they shot 7-of-14, but Washington responded accordingly to every push to maintain their lead. By the end of the half, the Huskies led 36-27.

Basin athletes push through state tourney
March 5, 2026 6:23 p.m.

Basin athletes push through state tourney

MOSES LAKE — The WIAA State Basketball Tournament is going on strong with local basin athletes continuing their fight toward a state title. See the results for Almira/Coulee Hartline, Royal and Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School below.

5th grade Jacks headed to state basketball
March 5, 2026 7 a.m.

5th grade Jacks headed to state basketball

QUINCY — The fifth-grade Quincy Jacks girls’ basketball team qualified for the state tournament at the Podium in Spokane running from March 13-15. As the girls prepare for the tourney Head Coach Summer Keller said the girls are feeling proud to represent their small town.

Four ‘Cats garner GNAC honors
March 5, 2026 12:35 a.m.

Four ‘Cats garner GNAC honors

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced on Tuesday that four Wildcats were represented on the All-Conference Teams, with senior guard Asher Cai earning Player of the Year honors, marking the fourth Wildcat to earn the Player of the Year distinction in the past five seasons.

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 5-12, 2026
March 5, 2026 12:10 a.m.

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 5-12, 2026

MOSES LAKE — As the seasons shift from winter to spring, so do the college sports as basketball heads into postseason and baseball gets deeper into early season competition. Check out where your favorite teams are headed this week.

Basin teams compete in round of 12 at state
March 4, 2026 5:26 p.m.

Basin teams compete in round of 12 at state

MOSES LAKE — Five teams from the Columbia Basin are competing in the state tournament this week, with three of those teams competing in the Round of 12 across the 1A and 1B tournaments in Yakima and Spokane. See the results of Royal and Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School’s boys teams below.

March 4, 2026 3:30 a.m.

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: March 4-7, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — The high school basketball season is wrapping up this week as the final teams from the basin go on a run for a state championship. Check out how the bracket is churning out in the next few rounds of the state tournament.

Cougars wrap up season in state tourney
March 3, 2026 3:57 p.m.

Cougars wrap up season in state tourney

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars boys basketball team concluded their season Feb. 27 in the opening round of the 2B state tournament after falling to Adna in Tumwater. Despite the loss at state, Head Coach Brent Erdmann said the team had a very successful season. “Very proud because these boys worked so hard, and we’re not your typical group of basketball players,” said Erdmann. “We haven’t been a basketball town in Warden, and I think just getting into state, we might have some kids that are hungry and we can do something next year.”

Lions reflect on successful season following state berth
March 3, 2026 3 a.m.

Lions reflect on successful season following state berth

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions girls basketball team (16-9) ended their season in round one of the state tournament, falling 30-55 to Valley Christian. Lions Head Coach Josh Kast said it finished a great season of growth that has him excited for the future. “It (was) slow, steady growth all season long,” said Kast. “We started out pretty hot, but we had to play some tougher teams in the second half of the year and we were competitive against those teams.” The Lions found success in the regular season as they went 8-2 in the Central Washington B League and entered districts as the third seed. Going into district play, they won their first matchup against Entiat but fell against the number two seed Pateros in the semifinals of the winner’s bracket.