MIKE MAYNARD

Wahluke falls to Tri-Cities in home opener

MATTAWA — The Wahluke Warriors (0-1) were defeated 46-24 in their home opener by the Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars. Despite the loss, Head Coach Makai Hirai said he was proud of the effort his players gave on the court. “That was the biggest thing that I took away is we had a lot of effort. We have a lot of girls who are hungry, and the coaches were excited about (that). Our girls look pretty motivated ... they’re working hard,” Hirai said. The Jaguars started fast and held the lead the entire game. Tri-Cities Prep put up double-digit scores in each quarter except for the third. The Warriors finished strong with 10 points in the fourth quarter, but the Jaguars came out victorious.

From overtime thriller to championship stage

The Knights meet Cashmere once again

ROYAL CITY — On Friday, the No. 1 seed Royal Knights (12-0) will travel to Husky Stadium to play the No. 2 seed Cashmere Bulldogs (11-1) in the 1A state championship game. The Knights Head Coach Wiley Allred was not surprised to see the Bulldogs reach the state championship game. “I was hoping there wasn't a team better than them, because that's a pretty tough team right there. We'll meet our match,” Allred said. When these two met in October, it was the Knights pulling off a late comeback to win 21-15 in overtime. Coming into that game, both teams were undefeated. The Knights had only allowed seven points all season, while the Bulldogs had not allowed a score by any team.

COLUMN: A moment of gratitude during conflict

At the time of writing, the Moses Lake Education Association is on its third day of striking as they work toward an agreement with the Moses Lake School District. It’s no secret these strikes have led to a ripple effect of outcomes, the most notable that school has not been in session this week as negotiations continue and teachers strike.

Warriors fall short in home opener

MATTAWA — The Wahluke Warriors (0-1) were defeated 67-43 by the Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars Tuesday in their return to the hardwood. Wahluke Head Coach Anfernee Cortez said some of the loss may be attributed to first-game jitters. “We started too flat and just kind of dug ourselves into a hole early. Against a team like Tri-Cities Prep, it’s tough to catch up at that point,” Cortez said. A slow start by the Warriors allowed Tri-Cities Prep to take hold of the momentum early and build a commanding lead. In the first half, the Warriors struggled to knock down shots and attack the rim. The Jaguars carried their momentum into the second half to run away with the game. Wahluke had a stronger second-half showing, but Cortez said it was not enough to get back in the game.

Wildcats stay perfect after weekend sweep

ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats are off to a 6-0 start to their regular season after their sweep last weekend over San Francisco State Gators and University of Mary Marauders. With a new group of players leading this season, Head Coach Randi Richardson said she feels great about where the team is at. “We're learning a lot about ourselves every game we step out onto the floor as it truly is a really new group playing with each other,” Richardson said. “We're trying to find that camaraderie out on the floor and that unity at times, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but we are finding ways to win and compete in the moment and get the job done.”

WA college football recap – Week 14

MOSES LAKE — Rivalry weekend saw some eventful results. Some teams saw unexpected shortfalls while others secured bowl game eligibility. With Eastern Washington and Central Washington finished for the year, that leaves the Cougars and the Huskies. See below how they fared in their final games of the regular season. Washington State (6-6) vs Oregon State The Cougars punctuated their regular-season finale with a 32–8 victory over the Oregon State Beavers to secure bowl eligibility, according to a statement by WSU athletics. The Cougars improved to 6–6 overall with the win, marking the program's third bowl appearance in the last four seasons.

Knights aiming high for success this season

ROYAL CITY — After an 11-12 season, the Knights are ready for more, according to Head Coach Farrah Wardenaar. After leaving it all on the court last season, they went into the offseason with a renewed drive to succeed. “We had a really good summer; we put in a lot of work. We went to a great team camp at Gonzaga, and I took 20 kids with me this summer. That just shows me the level of dedication (they have) is improving every year, so I think that's great,” Wardenaar said. With their investment into developing in the offseason, Wardenaar said she feels her team will be different this season. The Knights return a strong group of upperclassmen and a freshmen class. Taking both of those into account, she feels this roster is a strong depth to work with.

ACH Warriors eliminated from 1B state tournament

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (10-2) season comes to an end after falling to the DeSales Irish 44-22 in the semifinals of the 1B state football tournament on Saturday. Despite the tough loss, Head Coach Brandon Walsh said the Warriors are left with a lot to be proud of.

Knights steamroll their way to 1A state title game

ROYAL CITY — The first seed Royal Knights (12-0) defeated fourth seed Lynden Christian Lyncs 61-35 in the semifinals of the 1A state football tournament. Senior Brody Bishop expressed his excitement to play in the state championship game next weekend. “I just love being a part of this team. It's a crazy feeling. Going back to Husky Stadium means a lot,” Bishop said. The Knights came out of the first quarter with a two-point lead over Lynden Christian. However, after a few turnovers in the second quarter, they expanded their lead to 34-20 by halftime.

Mavs eager to take the next step on the court

MOSES LAKE — As Mavericks Head Coach Craig Groth prepares for his second year leading the group, he feels confident this team can take the next step. “They got acclimated to the new system. They learned a lot from it, and now that the system has been in place, and they know what their role is, we're able to come together and build upon the success from last year,” Groth said.