CALEB PEREZ
Recent Stories
Lady Eagles overcome Devils on the road
WILSON CREEK — The Soap Lake Eagles (12-6) added a 50-40 win to their record to end off the regular season against the Wilson Creek Devils (14-5) Thursday evening. Following the intense matchup, the two teams are getting ready to host their first games of the district tournament.
Devils win senior night against Eagles
WILSON CREEK — The Wilson Creek Devils finished the regular season with a 60-31 victory over the Soap Lake Eagles Thursday evening. With this win under their belts, the Devils begin to prepare for their postseason push. “It was a good night for us, seniors got a lot of playing time,” said Devils Head Coach Caleb McMillan. “Our seniors started the game off pretty strong, they came out here scored some baskets and played some good defense.”
Basin preps for Seahawks trip to Super Bowl LX
MOSES LAKE — Local bars and restaurants throughout the Basin are hosting events for the Sunday’s championship matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Huskies fall in home matchup against Illinois
SEATTLE — The University of Washington Huskies women’s basketball (17-5) team fell 66-75 in a close game against the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-6) Sunday at Alaska Airline Arena. The Huskies put up a strong defensive front, but it wasn’t enough to defend their home court.
WA College Sports Schedule: Feb. 5-12, 2026
MOSES LAKE — The competition is beginning to get more intense as college athletics head closer to the end of the regular season. See where your favorite team will be headed this week.
Spokane Ag Show brings pros together
SPOKANE — The Spokane Ag Show and Expo started its three-day spree Tuesday morning with agriculture and business experts from all around the world coming together to discuss the industry and get ready for the start of the growing season.
MLCA/CCS comes out with road victory over Devils
WILSON CREEK — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (11-7) earned a 66-40 road victory over the Wilson Creek Devils (13-4) Thursday evening. It was a hard-fought matchup that tested the skills of both teams throughout.
Lions claim victory on the Devils' home court
WILSON CREEK — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Christian Covenant School Lions (11-7) took to the road and earned a 54-26 victory over the Wilson Creek Devils (12-4) Thursday evening. The game was a close matchup in the first half, but the Lions found their rhythm to secure the victory.
GALLERY: Columbia Middle School Cheer celebrates victory
MOSES LAKE — The Frontier Columbia Middle School Cheer squads competed at the Battle at the Lake cheer competition at Moses Lake High School Saturday where both teams found success.
Association of Realtors hosts annual installation and awards banquet
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors hosted their annual installation and awards banquet Jan. 24. This event recognized the installation of new officers and bring those in the industry together for a meal.
Vikings men fall short to WVCC
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (9-13) came up just short of a home victory against the Wenatchee Valley Knights Wednesday. The game remained close throughout, but the Vikings were unable to gain the lead and fell 60-63.
Huskies win tight game against Tigers
EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies boys basketball team earned a 71-68 victory over the Ephrata Tigers Tuesday evening. This victory helped the Huskies secure a spot in the postseason as they aim toward a top five spot on the district tournament bracket.
Vikings women defend home court against Wenatchee Valley
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings (20-2) claimed a 54-43 victory at home against the Wenatchee Valley Knights (11-7) Wednesday. The game was a tight match throughout, but the Vikings pulled through with the win.
Frontier, Columbia cheer teams conclude seasons with first place
MOSES LAKE — The Frontier Middle School Spartans and Columbia Middle School Red Hawks competed in the Battle at the Lake cheer competition Saturday, where both teams earned first-place finishes in the middle school categories.
Huskies clinch postseason in victory over Tigers
EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies (4-14) earned a convincing 40-24 victory over the Ephrata Tigers (0-18) to clinch a spot in the postseason. The Huskies aim to finish out the season strong after coming out on top against a league rival.
Ferguson: A silent leader on field and court
MOSES LAKE — During last Tuesday’s basketball matchups for Moses Lake Christian Academy/Christian Covenant School Lions at the Den, senior Johnny Ferguson was honored for making the 2025 All-State 1B First Team as an All-Purpose athlete for football. Johnny said he has been a lifelong athlete and strives to push himself even further as he finishes his senior season.
McDonnell sits in on first BBCC Board of Trustees meeting
MOSES LAKE — Sarah McDonnell, the newest member on the Board of Trustees at Big Bend Community College, sat in on her first board meeting Thursday afternoon after being appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson last week. McDonnell said she realized she still has a lot to learn about the position, but she is excited to take on the challenge.
Museum works to preserve the history of the rails that built the state
REARDAN — The Inland Northwest Rail Museum is a longstanding place that serves to preserve the history of trains and railroads from across the nation. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary at its new location in Reardan, the museum seeks to expand its offerings as staff work to share this piece of history.
WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan. 28 – Feb. 4
MOSES LAKE — College athletes head deeper into their seasons as competition heats up in the cold winter months. See where your favorite team will be heading this week.
Winter enrollment up at BBCC
MOSES LAKE — During the President’s Report at the Big Bend Community College trustee meeting Thursday afternoon, the final stats for fall enrollment and stats for Winter enrollment were shared. The winter quarter had increases in enrollment across the board while fall slowed down.
Knights control the mat against Connell and Chiawana
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights earned strong team victories over Connell 54-18 and Chiawana 52-30 Wednesday evening. These matches helped prepare the Knights for the tough road ahead as they prepare for the postseason. “We wrestled good teams tonight, and they both got some (great wrestlers) on their team that you have to wrestle tough,” said Knights Head Coach Seth Weeks. “But I felt like the girls wrestled good, it was a lot of fun.”
Lions claim close game over La Salle
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions returned to form Tuesday as they earned an 80-68 win over La Salle. The Lions remain at the top of the Central Washington B league as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. “We just pulled together as a team,” said Lions senior Dennis Gulenko. “When somebody’s down, you come together even stronger.” The game started close in the first quarter as the two teams traded the lead multiple times before La Salle took the lead 13-17. The Lions turned up the heat in the second quarter to post 22 points to claim the lead at 35-33 at the end of the half.
Lions dominate on their home court after rough patch
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions earned a strong 72-12 win over La Salle Tuesday evening following a three-game drought. The Lions are third in the Central Washington B league standings as the regular season nears its end in the coming weeks. “I think that it was a good game after going through a couple (rough) days to come back,” said Lions junior Amelia Shopbell. The Lions fired on all cylinders coming into the matchup, putting up 18 points in the first quarter and holding the opposition to six. MLCA/CCA extended the lead in the second quarter with an additional 23 points on the scoreboard and holding La Salle to three.
Soap Lake Chamber adds new event in 2026
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce released their event schedule for 2026, including a new event this year: the Lantern Festival. Chamber President Karen Woodhouse said this addition gives the community something to do year-round. “I’ve been wanting to do something in the winter for the last three years, and this year I finally talked to the (Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort) and got them on board,” said Woodhouse. The Lantern Festival will be held the evening of Feb. 21 and is loosely inspired by Chinese New Year celebrations. She said the event will feature decorated paper lanterns with LED lights and a dragon prop that will be taken on a small parade through the area.
MLK celebrations bring community together
MOSES LAKE — The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated in Moses Lake Monday evening with people throughout the community gathering for a march and a celebration of life and legacy at the Civic Center. One of the attendees, Kathy Gardner, said the day brought back memories of King and what he fought for in his life. “He fought for people coming together to love and to be in peace and harmony with one another,” said Gardner. “He was all about unity and so I came to celebrate, to honor and just to share with friends, loved ones and the community about the dream.”
Mavs focus sights as districts approach
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks swim team competed in Yakima against West Valley and Sunnyside last Thursday where the team found success against its Big 9 rivals. Mavs Head Coach Tony Preston said this meet gave the boys experience as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. “Traveling to Yakima is always fun. We host a lot of meetings here, so going to other pools is great,” said Preston. The Mavs dominated in the 200-yard medley relay, taking the top three slots in the competition. This continued into the 200-yard freestyle with Lennox Leeder in first with 1:57.22, Sam Molitor in second with 2:07.71 and Ty Voss in third with 2:08.11.
Vanguard students host passion project showcase
MOSES LAKE — Vanguard Academy students hosted a showcase Thursday evening, highlighting passion projects that they’ve been working on this school year. Vanguard Principal Matt Stevens said these exhibition nights are great for the students to demonstrate their learning and their personal interests.
Track and field athletes begin season at UW Preview
SEATTLE — The University of Washington Huskies hosted the Washington State University Cougars and Central Washington University Wildcats in the UW Preview. This event marked the first Track and Field event of the year for these teams. CWU The Wildcats had a strong performance for their first meet of the new year, placing top 10 in around 20 events. “We had bright spots across the board as we got back into action,” said Wildcats Head Coach Jonathan Hill. “Starting out Friday, our distance men rewrote the record books in the 3k with a bunch of new names.”
The benefits of being a 'brat'
Richard Black looks back on a life growing up alongside and serving in the Army.
MOSES LAKE — Richard Black, a 71-year-old veteran and resident of Moses Lake, was born the second oldest of five siblings to his parents Hilda and Herbert Black. Growing up the son Herbert, a decorated war vet who fought in three separate conflicts, Richard said brought a lot of opportunity to his life.
BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan. 19-26, 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — Winter sports for our local athletes continue strong as they push through their tight January schedules. Check out where the high school teams will be headed this week.
Community dinner, silent auction, march planned for MLK weekend
MOSES LAKE — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Jan. 19, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee is hosting their annual freedom march that day at 4:30 p.m. This year the committee is expanding the celebration with a community dinner and silent auction taking place Saturday at 5 p.m.
Remembering a father’s valor that saved a future star
MOSES LAKE — Time passes and with that comes the loss of people, but this does not mean that the stories those people tell should be lost with them. Richard Black, a resident of Moses Lake and veteran, has one such story involving renowned musician Tony Bennett and Richard’s father Herbert “Blackie” Black, who both fought in a battle in World War II that would change their lives forever.
Douglass sticks to local roots
Windermere broker looks to give back to community
MOSES LAKE — Real Estate Broker Brandon Douglass with Windermere Realty has been a longtime partner in the community. Douglass said it is his goal to serve the community in whatever ways possible and he is working to do that by helping homebuyers.
Frontier Cheer takes first at Battle in the Desert
MOSES LAKE — The Frontier Middle School Spartans cheer team took first at the Battle in the Desert competition in Hanford Saturday. Spartans Head Coach Kelsy Kelley said it was a long day of competition, but it was a good experience for the team as they head into the final weeks of the season. “It was the first time ever competing on a stage in front of a lot of people,” said Kelley. “I think a lot of them were nervous, but we’ve been working on this for months now, and it’s just getting through those nerves. I think overall they did an amazing job.” The Battle in the Desert consisted of multiple cheer teams in the middle and high school levels with each team competing against similar age groups. The coach said it was highly competitive at the middle school level, but the Spartans managed to win over the judges out of around 40 other performances.
Lions defeat Eagles 60-21 at home
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (12-0) earned a strong 60-21home victory over the Soap Lake Eagles (1-7) to continue their undefeated season. “I feel like the team is doing really good,” said Lions senior Antonio Serrato. “We play really good together and know how to move the ball really well and get down the court really fast.”
Lions win league matchup at home against Eagles
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (8-2) basketball team defeated the Soap Lake Eagles (4-2) where the Lions 40-26 Thursday.
Mavs' Morris earns 100th career win in team victory
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks girls wrestling team earned a 44-36 victory over Eisenhower Wednesday evening in a conference matchup. During the meeting, Moses Lake senior Hayden Morris earned her 100th career win. “It feels really good,” said Morris. “It’s been a long journey and I’m just really glad that all this hard work has paid off and it’s finally working.” Morris earned this milestone in the 125-lb matchup against Eisenhower’s Ceci Rosas. The Mavs wrestler was dominant throughout the contest to come out on top with a 9-0 victory. Following her match, there was a short break taken to recognize Morris for achieving her 100th win.
Mavs fall in close meet against Eisenhower
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks boys wrestling team took a loss at home Wednesday against Eisenhower. The competition was close, but Moses Lake came just short with the final team score being 42-32. “I knew this match was going to be very tough for us, Eisenhower’s a tough team and I’ve been watching them throughout the beginning of the season,” said Mavs Head Coach Jose Tanguma. “I knew that today was going to be for the league title.”
Huskies take close victory on the mat against Tigers
EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies and Ephrata Tigers had a close matchup Tuesday evening with the Huskies taking a 42-39 victory over their Central Washington Athletic Conference rival.
Huskies topple Tigers on the road
EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies travelled to face the Ephrata Tigers Tuesday evening where the Huskies earned a 42-28 team victory over their Central Washington Athletic Conference rival. “I thought it went pretty well. It was a fun and entertaining duel,” said Huskies Head Coach Reuben Lopez. “It was a close match for a while; a couple guys pulled through at the end and we got ourselves a win.” The Huskies and Tigers wrestlers traded matches back and forth in the lower weight classes at the start of the meet. As the matches got into the middle weight classes, Othello went on a winning streak to gain the lead. Ephrata earned a few more wins, but the Huskies stayed ahead to take the team victory.
Lions seize win, remain undefeated
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (9-0) basketball team added another win onto their undefeated record Monday after earning a home victory against Waitsburg 75-33. The win officially marks the halfway point in the Lions’ season as they head deeper into league play. “Honestly, it feels great, especially after our win last week against DeSales. I’m actually feeling nice,” said Lions junior Max Gulenko. “Our ball movement is feeling good, and our defense has been really nice.” The Lions were dominant right from tipoff, gaining a 49-14 lead over the opposition in the first half. The MLCA/CCS front scored another 18 in the second half and maintained its significant lead to earn the victory.
Jacks basketball teams have shaky weekend
QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits basketball teams each played games against Ellensburg and East Valley Friday and Saturday. See how the teams did below and how they plan to push forward in the Central Washington Athletic Conference.
Wildcats go 2-0 in Alaska
ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington University Wildcats (12-1) found success on the road in Alaska as they earned wins over the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks and Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 77-65. “Very happy to come out of this road trip with two wins,” said Wildcats Head Coach Randi Richardson. “I’m really proud of our team’s resilience to keep their composure and find some consistent stops and scores to pull that out.”
BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan. 5-12, 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — Student athletes all around the basin return to regular competition following a bit of rest over winter break. See where the local teams will be heading this week.
Royal hosts Carlos Villa Memorial Tournament
ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Knights hosted a tournament in honor of Royal’s Head Coach Carlos Villa who passed away last year. The tournament had 22 teams in attendance, including the Ephrata Tigers, Moses Lake Mavericks and Wahluke Warriors.
Multiple BBCC students earn scholarships in 2025
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students earned a number of scholarships during 2025, which assisted them as they continued through their careers at Big Bend and as they transferred on to four-year universities.
Devils win close match vs. Waterville-Mansfield
WILSON CREEK — The Wilson Creek Devils (6-3) found success in a close home game against Waterville-Mansfield, where they earned a 33-30 victory. This marks the Devils' fifth straight win as they head into the second half of the season.
Knights girls take three wins in Arizona Tourney
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights girls basketball team travelled to Tempe, AZ to compete in a three-game tournament where – following a Tuesday afternoon victory over Bear Creek – the Knights would go 3-0. This now places the knights 8-1 as they head into the next half of the season.
BBCC expands ag opportunities in 2025
MOSES LAKE – 2025 was an important year for Big Bend Community College as they experienced significant growth all around the facility. “What I want the public to know is all of the great work that’s happening at the college,” said BBCC President Sarah Thompson Tweedy during an earlier interview in June.
Wahluke girls earn first win of the season
MATTAWA — The Wahluke Warriors girls basketball team earned its first victory of the season following a close matchup against River View Monday evening. Warriors Head Coach Mikai Hirai said this was a very exciting victory for the team as they gain energy for the second half of the season.