CALEB PEREZ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

ACH continues state run with win over Muckleshoot Tribal

WENATCHEE — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors kept their bid in the state tournament alive after earning a 53-41 victory over Muckleshoot Tribal in the second round of the 1B state tournament. The Warriors prepare for the Round of 12 in Spokane as they work their way towards a state title. “Oh, we’re pumped,” said Warriors junior Crace Okamoto. “We’re excited to play in the arena and we’re going to give it all we’ve got.”

ACH earns strong victory over Neah Bay

WENATCHEE — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors claimed a 64-51 victory over Neah Bay in the opening round of the 1B state tournament. With this victory, the Warriors move on to the quarterfinals as they push toward a state championship.

Vikings conclude season with a home victory over Yaks

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (13-16) ended their season Wednesday night, but not before going out strong with an 88-73 victory over the Yakima Valley Yaks. With the Vikings coming just one game short of making the playoffs prior to this matchup, the goal was to still give all they had. “It’s bittersweet, you know we closed out the season four and five, we were one quick possession out of the playoffs,” said Vikings sophomore Miguel Taylor. “But we finished the season strong. We all came together and were able to make big improvements, so I’m happy.” The Vikings came out strong in the first half of the competition, taking an early lead over Yakima Valley. By halftime, BBCC was up by eight.

Vikings claim region championship

Big Bend leads region after 65-61 win over Yakima Valley Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — In their final home game of the season, the Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings earned a 65-61 victory over the Yakima Valley Yaks to claim the region championship.

Mavs swim competes at state to close out season

FEDERAL WAY — The Moses Lake Mavericks swim team traveled to the King County Aquatic Center to compete in the state tournament, where each of the qualifying athletes found success in the water. As a team, the Mavs finished 28th. “We had some challenging times the last two weeks before state, but they kept their heads up through it all and had a really good time at state. I’m super proud of these guys here,” said Head Coach Anthony Preston.

Royal girls claim second in District 6 championships

TOPPENISH — The battle for first place in the 1A District 6 tournament came to a close last Friday when the Royal Knights fell to Zillah 46-56. With the Knights taking second in districts, they prepare to enter the state tournament as the fifth seed.

Knights head to state after 2nd place finish in districts

TOPPENISH — The Royal Knights concluded the district tournament after a climactic battle against Zillah ended in a 62-64 loss for Royal. The Knights still finished second in the 1A District 5 tournament and are entering as the third seed in the state tournament.

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: Feb. 26 – Mar. 5, 2026

MOSES LAKE — College basketball enters postseason play as baseball and softball begin the early portion of spring competition. Check out where your favorite teams will be playing this week.

Cougars qualify for state competition

EAST WENATCHEE — The Warden Cougars made a strong push in the district tournament, beating Tonasket 72-68 and Goldendale 53-50 last weekend to qualify for state. After falling to Liberty Bell 67-47 Saturday afternoon, the Cougars finished sixth in District 5 as they prepare for their first game of state competition.

ACH wins district title ahead of state run

REARDAN — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors earned the 1B District 6 title Saturday evening after an 83-68 victory over DeSales in the district championships. With this victory, the Warriors enter the state tournament as the second seed and prepare to make a deep run toward a state championship.

Lions punch ticket to state with third place finish in districts

WENATCHEE — After a tough back and forth battle, the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions earned a 42-36 victory over the Wilson Creek Devils Saturday afternoon in the District 5 finals. This victory earned the Lions third in districts and sends the team to state. “We’re excited,” said Lions Head Coach Josh Kast. “Two years ago, we only won three games. It took some big steps last year winning 13 games, but this was a big step for us.”

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Feb. 23 – 28, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — The last standing basketball teams from around the basin prepare to head out and face the first round of state competition. See who the remaining teams will be facing this week.

Mavs fall in heartbreaker against Sunnyside

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks concluded their season Saturday evening with a 51-69 loss to Sunnyside in the state play-in game. The match was hard-fought, but ultimately the opposition pulled out ahead to punch their ticket to state. “Sunnyside came to play; they came out hitting on all cylinders,” said Mavericks Head Coach Craig Groth. “We were set behind in the first part of the game, and we didn’t have quite enough opportunities to catch up.”

Basin district basketball sees busy weekend

MOSES LAKE — The remaining basin basketball teams finished their district play over the weekend, and many are now preparing for state playoffs. The results of some games were not available at the time of publication. Additional coverage will be featured in the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of the Columbia Basin Herald.

Lions grab district championship

WENATCHEE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (20-2) boys basketball team became the District 5-1B champions after besting Oroville 59-25 Friday night. The Lions celebrate their victory as they prepare to make a run in the state tournament.