IAN BIVONA
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey.
Recent Stories
Lions off to 10-1 start
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School boys basketball team has opened the season with a near-perfect mark, improving to 10-1 with Friday night’s road win over Oroville. The Lions have won nine straight games since a Dec. 7 loss to Tonasket and are 4-0 in Central Washington B games this winter. “It’s coming together with team chemistry, and we’re settling into our roles,” Head Coach Emerson Ferguson said. “They’ve changed this year with new players in the lineup. We’ve been playing our brand of basketball that we’ve been playing for the last few years.”
Ephrata’s Dave Johnson inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame
EPHRATA — Dave Johnson has received plenty of recognition at the local and state level for the success his baseball teams had while serving as the head coach at Ephrata High School, but the former Tiger baseball coach received a new honor last week – being inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Moses Lake’s Richardson signs to play for Walla Walla CC
MOSES LAKE – Family, friends, teammates and coaches gathered at the Moses Lake High School commons on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate senior Paige Richardson signing to play softball for Walla Walla Community College. “It’s really exciting; it feels real now, now that all that’s done,” Richardson said. “Overwhelming, but exciting.” Richardson has been a three-year starter for the Maverick fastpitch softball team, earning numerous accolades from the Columbia Basin Big 9. In the 2024 season, Richardson was the Big 9’s Most Valuable Player and a unanimous first-team pitcher.
Thirteen local football players earn all-state recognition
MOSES LAKE – The Washington State Football Coaches Association announced its All-State Football Teams awards on Sunday, with full lists representing each of the state’s six classifications.
BASIN WRESTLING REPORT: ACH hosts Banks Lake Brawl
COULEE CITY – Almira/Coulee-Hartline hosted the Banks Lake Brawl on Saturday in Coulee City, bringing in boys and girls wrestling teams from across the region for a day of competition.
Knights avenge state playoff loss, defeat Riverside 78-39
ROYAL CITY – While the 2023-24 season is in the past, the Royal Knights had a chance to avenge their loss in last season’s state boys basketball tournament with Friday night’s non-league matchup against Riverside, doubling up the Rams in a 78-39 win. Riverside defeated Royal 55-40 in the Round of 12 at the 1A State Boys Basketball Tournament last February in Yakima. Both teams returned three starters from their previous matchup.
ACH hosts tourney
COULEE CITY – Wrestlers from across Eastern Washington gathered at Almira/Coulee-Hartline for Saturday’s Banks Lake Brawl, including local teams from ACH, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague and Ephrata. See Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for full results from the tournament, as well as how other teams fared at tournaments across the state.
Warriors season going strong at 7-1
COULEE CITY – A blended roster of returning experience and younger talented players has helped the Almira/Coulee-Hartline boys basketball team get off to a winning start this season, as the team bears a 7-1 record through the first month of the 2024-25 season. “It’s a good mix of young and old – a good mix of experience coming in,” Head Coach Graham Grindy said. “Depth is definitely something that we are fortunate to have.”
Mavericks defeat Shadle Park, even record at 5-5
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake boys basketball team evened its record at 5-5 with Monday night’s win over Shade Park, defeating the Highlanders 77-69 in a non-league home matchup. “We were feeling good, we’ve been playing better over the last few weeks,” Head Coach Craig Groth said. “Kids have been growing and learning the offense, learning the principles on defense and coming together as a team. They’re doing a really good job at that.”
BASIN WRESTLING REPORT: Royal takes second at home tourney
ROYAL CITY -- Eight local boys wrestling teams took the mat at Saturday’s Royal Christmas Tournament, with the Royal Knights having the highest finish of the Basin squads (second place, 169 points).