MIKE MAYNARD

Knights suffer close loss in opening round of state

YAKIMA — The Royal Knights (20-4) suffered a 48-47 loss to the King’s Knights after nearly pulling off the comeback in the opening round of the 1A state boys basketball tournament.

Tigers cap season with 2 on the podium

EPHRATA — After a strong season that saw five wrestlers compete in the Mat Classic, Ephrata Tigers Head Coach Joe Knox said the future is bright for the program.

Huskies bring home 5 medals in Mat Classic

OTHELLO — After a strong showing in the Mat Classic tournament, the Othello Huskies girls squad finished second as a team in the 2A bracket and had five wrestlers reach the podium. With 11 of the 15 wrestlers who competed in Tacoma returning next season, Head Coach Sammy Rocha feels confident the Huskies will be back.

Knights shine in Mat Classic

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights had a strong showing in the Mat Classic, sending 29 wrestlers to the state tournament. Across the boys and girls teams, 15 wrestlers earned a spot on the podium, including three state champions for the girls.

Sanchez makes history as Tigers finish fourth in Mat Classic

TACOMA — The Ephrata Tigers girls' squad had a successful run in the Mat Classic, finishing fourth as a team, four wrestlers reached the podium and Adylene Sanchez made history becoming the first two-time state champion for girls wrestling at Ephrata.

Knights girls crown three champs as nine earn medals

TACOMA — The Royal Knights girls squad showed out at the Mat Classic, finishing in the top 10 and sending nine wrestlers to the podium by the end of the weekend. Girls Head Coach Seth Weeks said what they were able to accomplish was nothing short of impressive. “It meant everything,” Weeks said. “Being a first-year coach with these girls, I've worked with a lot of them over the last few years. I've been coaching at the middle school so a lot of those girls have wrestled for me in the past, and so to tie it all together and let the girls see that hard work translate to (success) was awesome.”

Four Warriors medal at Mat Classic; Butler siblings shine in Tacoma

TACOMA — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors brought home some hardware from this year’s Mat Classic. Siblings Karis and Noah Butler won their state finals matches to become state champions. According to Head Coach Brandon Walsh, it’s been a while since a pair of siblings won state titles together. “A couple of brothers back in ’ 99 a long time ago,” he said. “It's a credit to them. Those kids work so hard. They love wrestling, they wrestle all year round. They're leaders in the room, (we) just couldn't be happier for them. That's fantastic in the world of wrestling.”

Several Mavs reach the podium in Mat Classic

TACOMA — The Moses Lake Mavericks concluded their appearance at the Mat Classic on day two, with several wrestlers making deep runs. Boys One wrestler who went far this year was Eli Anderson who battled his way into the 215-lb finals, where he fell just short 4-2. Despite the loss, Anderson displayed gratitude.

Mat Classic 2026 sees strong performances by Basin athletes

TACOMA — On day one of the Mat Classic Washington’s best from the 3A and 4A competed at the Tacoma Dome, Thursday. Across the boys and girls teams of the Moses Lake Mavericks, seven wrestlers moved on to the semifinals. Competition for other teams from Grant and Adams counties started Friday with additional strong performances from those teams as well.

Seven Mavs heading to semis at Mat Classic

TACOMA — On day one of the Mat Classic Washington’s best from the 3A and 4A competed at the Tacoma Dome, Thursday. Across the boys and girls teams of the Moses Lake Mavericks, seven wrestlers are headed to the semifinals.

GALLERY: Mavericks start strong at Mat Classic

TACOMA — The Mat Classic is underway in the Tacoma Dome. The Moses Lake Mavericks boys and girls squads took to the mats Thursday in the 4A brackets. Here are some highlights from the first day of action. Additional coverage of the state tournament will be available in a later edition.

Jacks send 11 wrestlers to Mat Classic

QUINCY — Eleven wrestlers will represent the Quincy Jacks in the 2A bracket of the Mat Classic this year across the boys and girls teams. “Super proud of them,” Boys Head Coach Breck Webley said. “A few of them had great records and were consistent throughout the season and in their performance, so this was just kind of a reflection of that. We had a few outliers teetering on the edge... and then they just turned it on and peaked at the right time, and were able to clinch a spot, which was awesome to see as well.”

Mavericks eager for deep run in Mat Classic

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks are sending 25 wrestlers across both boys and girls squads to compete in the 4A bracket of the Mat Classic. For the boys, Head Coach Jose Tanguma said his wrestlers are ready to perform when the lights come on. “I feel very good with the kids we have going to state. These kids have been wrestling tough all year long, and I think they're ready for the big show right now,” he said.

ACH sends eight to state

COULEE CITY — After a strong season of wrestling for the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors are sending eight wrestlers to the Mat Classic. “We're excited about the group we got going,” Head Coach Brandon Walsh said. The Warriors are set to take six boys and two girls to Tacoma as they pursue more success at the state level. ACH had a strong performance across their team in their district tournament, where four boys made the semifinals, three advanced to the championship matches and two came out champions.

Boys basketball roundup, Feb. 10 –14

MOSES LAKE — As the state tournament looms on the horizon, the local boys basketball teams are pushing through their district tournaments. See below how your favorite team has fared and their current record.

Girls basketball roundup, Feb. 10-14

MOSES LAKE — As the regular season winds down and district tournament competition picks up, local teams are eyeing a spot in the state tournament. See below how your favorite team has fared in the last week and their current record.

MLHS girls suffer loss after late rally by Sunnyside

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (4-18) were defeated 46-40 by the Sunnyside Grizzlies at home in a competitive game that went down to the wire. Head Coach Matt Strophy was proud of his team’s effort Friday.

Mavericks final home win sends them to district championship

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (14-6) defeated the Sunnyside Grizzlies 72-64 in their final home game of the regular season Friday. Mavs junior Caden Barney complimented his team for their efficiency on offense.

Statement win: Knights earn victory in first round of district tourney

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (19-3) defeated the Omak Pioneers 74-30 Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the 1A District 5 tournament. Head Coach Farrah Wardenaar was thrilled to see her players dominate the hardwood.

Big Bend rolls over CBC at home

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (10-15) defeated the Columbia Basin College Hawks 85-63 to earn a statement win at home. Head Coach Jason Hopkins said it was nice to see his players start putting together they had worked on prior to this game.

Lady Vikings overcome CBC in barn burner

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings (23-2) earned a statement win over Columbia Basin College Wednesday. After going to overtime, they squeezed out an 80-75 win as they avenged a prior loss to the Hawks.

Men's college basketball recap Feb. 4-11, 2026

MOSES LAKE — Washington college basketball has had its peaks and valleys this season. As these teams head into the final stretch of their seasons, see below where your favorite team stands.

‘12 as one’

Around 1M fans pack downtown Seattle after Seahawks Super Bowl win

SEATTLE — The 12th man flocked to Seattle’s 4th Ave Wednesday to celebrate the newly crowned Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The event even brought out former players of the franchise.

Coyotes 14U make deep tournament run

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Coyotes 14U squad made a deep run in the Moses Lake 14U Winter Classic, just falling short 5-3 in the championship game to the Coeur d’Alene Thunder. “It went well overall,” Head Coach Dan Niehenke said. “They were out there skating fast and playing well as a team. We saw a lot more team play, even over the last two weekends of tournaments that we've had, just further refinement and dialing in how they execute as a team.”

Mavs cheer successful in state competition

BATTLE GROUND — The Moses Lake Mavericks competitive cheer squad took home hardware this year at the state competition in Battle Ground. Head Coach Mikey Carlile called it a great experience for her team, as they capped off another successful season. “We had a great weekend,” she said. “They definitely improved every time that we competed (this season), and they worked really hard on taking the judges feedback and implementing it into our routine. They had a great season.”

Basin boys basketball roundup, Feb. 2 – 7

MOSES LAKE — As the regular season concludes this week, district competition is going to ramp up fast. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record as they head into their final week of regular season competition.

Mavs girls show grit in home loss

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks girls squad (4-16) suffered a 54-34 loss at home to the Eastmont Wildcats. Despite the loss, the players never waned in their effort on the court, Head Coach Matt Strophy said.

Basin girls basketball roundup, Feb. 3 – 7

MOSES LAKE — As we enter the final week of the regular season for most basin girls basketball teams, several are making their final pushes for the postseason while others look to finish strong. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

MLHS boys fend off Eastmont rally

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (13-6) held the Eastmont Wildcats comeback attempt in the second half to win 79-76 Friday. Head Coach Craig Groth said the Wildcats made it tough in the second half, but his guys made enough plays by the end of it.

Roylance signs with Spokane Falls volleyball

MOSES LAKE — Lilliana Roylance is bound for the Northwest Athletic Conference after signing her letter of intent to play volleyball for the Sasquatches at Spokane Falls Community College. Roylance said she was excited for her signing day to arrive.

Tigers victorious as Jacks push them to the limit

QUINCY — As a ruckus crowd packed the gym at Quincy High School as the Ephrata Tigers defeated the Jacks 37-28 on the road in a highly competitive dual that came down to the last match. Tigers Head Coach Joe Knox said he was proud of how his wrestlers competed Thursday.

Tigers defeat Jacks in Battle of the Basin

QUINCY — The Ephrata Tigers overcame the Quincy Jacks in a 38-36 nailbiter dual on the road Thursday. Head Coach Raul Tejeda was proud of his team for pulling out the win despite missing some key wrestlers. “It was tough. We didn't have a full varsity lineup. We threw in some (junior varsity wrestlers) in there, and we honestly didn't think we were going to win. This one is going to be a real tough one to get some points out there, but they came through,” Tejeda said.

MLHS’s Martinez signs with E. Oregon

MOSES LAKE — Mavericks volleyball player Kardyn Martinez signed her letter of intent with Eastern Oregon University to play soccer Thursday after earning recognition on the pitch while playing club soccer. Though it was nerve wracking for the day to arrive, she said, she is excited for what is to come. “There's nothing that can really prepare you for it, but I'm super excited, and I'm super thankful that everybody could be here and support me. It's a huge support system with (the volleyball team), I have everybody's back and they have my back, so it's just really exciting,” Martinez said.

Bierlink drops 64 in double-OT thriller

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (6-15) fell to the Toppenish Wildcats 93-96 in double overtime Tuesday. Despite the loss, Pierce Bierlink put together a historic performance with 64 points. Head Coach Scott Bierlink said the atmosphere in the gym made for a memorable night.

COLUMN: A rare shot at redemption

This might be the most exciting Super Bowl matchup we have seen in a while. The Seattle Seahawks are back in the championship game for the first time since their heartbreaking loss to the New England Patriots in 2015.

Lady Huskies show fight in loss to Ellensburg

“We knew what we were going to have to deal with going into it,” Tovar said. “I thought the girls showed resilience, they kept fighting all the way to the end, and I felt like the second half looked better than the first half. There's some good things to take away from it, but unfortunately these kinds of games show the girls where all that offseason work comes in.”

Huskies boys win nailbiter at home

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (8-12) overcame the Ellensburg Bulldogs 71-68 at home Tuesday night. Head Coach Juan Garcia was proud of how his players battled through adversity. OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (8-12) overcame the Ellensburg Bulldogs 71-68 at home Tuesday night. Head Coach Juan Garcia was proud of how his players battled through adversity.

Mavericks co-league champions, as Vasquez heads to state

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (12-3) are the co-Big Nine champions alongside Eastmont in bowling this season. In addition to a league title, Abby Vasquez is heading to the state competition. “It's exciting,” Vasquez said. “As of right now, it's underwhelming almost, because it hasn't set in yet. I'm sure the second I walk into the building, I'm just going to come crashing down.”

Eagles late rally falls short at home

CHENEY — The Eastern Washington Eagles (11-11) fell 71-62 to the Northern Colorado Bears Saturday, despite a late rally in the fourth quarter, according to a statement by EWU Athletics. Head Coach Joddie Gleason said her players showed toughness in the second half, despite the loss.

Basin girls basketball roundup, Jan. 26 – Feb. 2

MOSES LAKE — As the regular season wraps up, local teams are looking to finish strong. In the last week, teams have made progress toward the postseason. See below where your favorite team stands and their current record.

Basin boys basketball roundup, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2

MOSES LAKE — As the regular season wraps up, space in the postseason bracket is getting tighter. Several local teams are making their final pushes for a spot, see below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Moses Lake Scorpions cheer team earns gold

MOSES LAKE — On Saturday, the Moses Lake Scorpions competed in the Washington Special Olympics district cheer competition where they earned a gold medal in the level one group. Head Coach Kerry Aronsohn said it was great to see Moses Lake host the first ever district competition.

Coyotes 18U hosts Moses Lake Winter Classic

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Coyotes 18U hockey team went 2-1-1 as they hosted the Winter Classic Tournament at the Moses Lake Ice Rink. Head Coach Scott Freidig said the tournament was a success.

Lady Vikings rally in fourth quarter for statement win

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings (21-2) defeated Walla Walla Community College Warriors 60-46 Saturday. With this win, they sit firmly in first place of the Eastern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference. Head Coach Preston Wilks was ecstatic after the win.

Basin sports schedule, Feb. 2-9

MOSES LAKE — As the conclusion of the regular season nears, teams are starting to push for the best tournament seeding possible in their respective sports. See below where your favorite team is headed next.

Lady Jacks push past Prosser

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks defeated the Prosser Mustangs 58-24 Thursday at home as they try to finish the season strong. Head Coach Mark Kondo said his wrestlers did a good job in their win as they get ready for the postseason.

Jacks boys overcome early deficit to win at home

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks overcame a slow start against the Prosser Mustangs to earn a 40-29 league win at home. Head Coach Breck Webley was happy to his wrestlers come out victorious against a tough opponent.

Kast, Wardenaar lead Royal to win over Wahluke

MATTAWA — The Royal Knights (14-3) defeated the Wahluke Warriors (1-16) 70-22 Tuesday to take another win in the South Central Athletic Conference. Knights Coach Farrah Wardenaar is happy about the momentum her players are building.

Moses Lake Tribe qualifies for AAU state competition

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Tribe’s 6th grade Amateur Athletic Union basketball team has qualified for the state competition. Head Coach Tom Howard is happy with the experience his players are getting this season. “There’re five on five tournaments, and there's so many tournaments nowadays, a lot of them are state qualifiers, and if you get first or second in your grade division, you qualify for state. We've gotten second twice this year, which is awesome for our girls... and it just gives you confidence,” Howard said.

COLUMN: The Lady Vikings are making noise this season

I reluctantly want to call attention to some of the sentiments I heard about Big Bend Community College athletics when I first arrived in the Basin in the summer. I was told not to expect much out of them, and winning does not tend to be a thing for the Vikings.