MIKE MAYNARD
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Eagles women's tennis eighth in preseason poll
CHENEY — The Big Sky Conference has released the 2026 womens tennis preseason coaches poll, with the Eastern Washington Eagles ranked eighth. According to a statement by EWU Athletics, they earned 19 points in voting.
BBCC mens basketball falls at home to Spokane
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (8-10) were defeated 80-72 by the Spokane Sasquatches Wednesday. Despite another late rally, it came down to execution, Head Coach Jason Hopkins said. “It's the second game where our willingness to do the right thing consistently throughout the bulk of the game was really tested, and we failed that test,” Hopkins said. “We made some plays and we were able to make it a game, but a huge reason that we had to do that was because we weren't ready to execute in the way that we needed to, defensively early and offensively at stretches in the second half. We’ve got to do better.”
Tigers cheer qualifies for state competition
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers competitive cheer team has qualified for the state competition for the second consecutive season. Head Coach Heather Wood was elated to see her team qualify for second time in the three years they’ve had a competitive team.
Huskies defeat the Mavericks 45-30 on the mat
OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies defeated the Moses Lake Mavericks 45-30 Tuesday, after a competitive meet that went back and forth all night. Huskies Head Coach Reuben Lopez told his team the first to 36 points wins.
COLUMN: Demond Williams, Jr. situation highlights transfer portal issues
On Jan. 2 the transfer portal opened in college football, and players from across the country flooded the pool to gauge interest from other schools. One situation that stands out so far surrounds University of Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
Mavs junior varsity off to undefeated start
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks junior varsity squad (12-0) is off to an undefeated start this season. Head Coach Ryan Carlstrom said team chemistry has played a role in their success this year. “We have two additional juniors on the JV team who were part of the program last year, but for the most part, it's almost the exact same freshman team as last year,” Carlstrom said. “They've had to blend in with this group of players who (have) been playing together for a long time, but they've done nothing but add to this group of players who are a pretty skilled group of kids and hard workers, and they've made my job very easy for the last couple of years.”
Basin girls basketball roundup, Jan. 6-12, 2026
MOSES LAKE — Girls high school basketball in the Basin continues this week as we head further into league competition. With another week down, see where your favorite teams stand and their current records.
Eagles rally to overcome Grizz
MISSOULA — Eastern Washington (8-8, 1-2) defeated the University of Montana, 65-58, rallying in the second half to get the road victory, according to a statement by EWU Athletics. “We are so proud of how the team bounced back to beat the Griz today after the heart-breaking OT loss on Thursday,” Head Coach Joddie Gleason said. “Road wins are extremely tough in the Big Sky (Conference) and our execution of the game plan today was tremendous.”
Knights win third straight home game
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (9-1) won their third straight game Saturday, defeating the Kiona-Benton Bears 90-42. Head Coach Tim Ravet said his players did a good job executing the defensive game plan. “When we don't reach and just stay sound on defense, keep things in front of us and get deflections. We're pretty solid on defense. It's when we get out over our skis and reach and lunge when we get beat, but we're trying to do a better job of that, so hopefully that'll start to carry over into big games,” Ravet said.
Wildcats take down the Vikings
ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats (14-1) defeated the Western Washington Vikings (12-5) 75-58 Saturday to remain undefeated in the Greater Northwest Conference, according to a statement by CWU Athletics. The ‘Cats haven’t had a loss in conference play with their only setback this season being a nonconference game against California State Polytechnic University. Head Coach Randi Richardson said it was a well-rounded performance by her players, who secured their sixth straight win.
Vikings extend win streak after overtime win
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (16-1) pulled off a competitive 66-62 win in overtime against the Treasure Valley Chukars Saturday. After a win like that, Head Coach Preston Wilks said he was filled with elation. “That was such a wonderful outcome. We knew it was going to be a dog fight. They're a talented team, and I'm just so proud of the way we played,” Wilks said.
BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan 12-19, 2026
MOSES LAKE — Local teams are in full swing of the second halves of their seasons. As they move forward, the competition across their respective leagues get tougher. See below where your favorite team is heading next.
Vikings fall short despite second half rally
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (8-9) fell short at home to the Treasure Valley Chukars 77-88. Head Coach Jason Hopkins was humble in defeat.
Cougars grab late comeback to earn home win
WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (3-10) defeated the Granger Spartans 41-39 Friday after pulling off a second half comeback. For Head Coach Emily Cox, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. “Fun and not fun all the same time,” Cox said. “We kind of got ourselves in a hole in the first half, and at halftime, we just told them to keep battling and keep working hard and try and dig ourselves out of it, and the girls did. They came out and they battled.”
Cougars defend home court, beat Spartans 61-50
WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (6-5) snapped a three-game rut by defeating the Granger Spartans 61-50 Friday. Head Coach Brent Erdmann said his players fought hard to get back in the win column. “They've been battling all year. Any win is a good win for us right now. We had a pretty rough run for a little bit, to actually come back and get a (win) for these guys, we'll take it,” Erdmann said.
Knights boys grab three wins in Arizona
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Royal Knights (7-1) traveled to Tempe, Arizona in December to compete in a multi-day tournament. The Knights went 3-0 against the competition. They defeated Maryvale 83-6, Sacred Heart Prep 64-61 and Bear Creek 56-48.
Men's college basketball recap
MOSES LAKE — Men's basketball is well underway in Washington as several teams are battling it out in their respective leagues. See below where your favorite programs stand. Gonzaga (16-1) vs Loyola Marymount The Zags are currently on a nine-game win streak after defeating Loyola Marymount 82-47 Sunday.
COLUMN: The perfect path to the Super Bowl for the Seahawks
One of the best time periods of the sports calendar is here – playoff football. As the college football playoff semifinals conclude, fans from across the country can remain comfortable on the couch as wild card weekend kicks off for the NFL. 12 teams will battle it out on their respective ends of the bracket to earn a chance to play at least one more game. Most importantly, to inch closer to claiming football immortality by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara, California, the host of Super Bowl 60. As the top seed, the Seattle Seahawks will play the lowest remaining seed in the NFC after this weekend.
Wardenaar sinks 41 points as Knights earn blowout win
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (7-1) stormed the hardwood to defeat the Naches Valley Rangers 75-29 Tuesday. Head Coach Tim Ravet said the win was good to get the team back in a rhythm after suffering a loss earlier this week. “To come out and at least play inspired and hard was a good step in the right direction to get our wheels back underneath us, and hopefully continue to build (momentum), and to get ready for when we play them again,” Ravet said. After a steady start in the first quarter that saw the Knights take a 13-6 lead, they turned up the heat in the second quarter to take a commanding 29-9 lead over the Rangers. Strong paint presence by Grant Wardenaar and facilitating by Fischer Livingston helped Royal dominate on the court. In the second half, they continued to build that momentum by outscoring Naches Valley 46-20 to secure the win.
Defense powers Knights to statement win
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (9-2) defeated the Naches Valley Rangers 45-22 to bounce back into the win column Tuesday. After a strong performance in the paint, Graycie Kast was all smiles after earning her first home win as a Knight. “It feels good, (the community) brings the energy,” Kast said. The Knights capitalized on turnovers by the Rangers to build a strong lead in the first half. Kast drove the charge on offense by finding scores inside or drawing fouls to get to the free throw line. By halftime, Royal led 23-9. In the second half, they continued to impose their will on defense and widen the gap on the score board. Even when the Rangers found some momentum in the fourth quarter, the Knights defense was too much and they ultimately secured the win.
Basin girls basketball roundup, Dec. 30 – Jan. 5
MOSES LAKE — The halfway point of the season for girls basketball is upon us. As league play kicks off, every team is looking to make a run. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current records.
Basin boys basketball roundup, Dec. 30 – Jan. 5
MOSES LAKE — As teams come out of the holiday break, many are looking to turn it up a notch. Some have jumped out strong in their leagues; others are hoping to turn their seasons around. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current records.
Cougs earn statement win in Spokane
SPOKANE — The Washington State Cougars (8-9) defeated Oregon State 81-67 to win their second straight game Sunday. Head Coach David Riley said the win was a nice momentum booster for what they have been working on as of late. “We got to continue to trust the offense,” Riley said in a press conference. “All game today the ball was zipping around and then defensively just a little bit more talk and more urgency. Talk builds trust and that’s something we did a better job of today.”
Banks Lake Brawl tourney highlights local wrestlers
COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors hosted the Banks Lake Brawl wrestling tournament Saturday, which saw 15 schools attend including the Ephrata Tigers and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos. Warriors Head Coach Brandon Walsh said this was the 13th year they’ve held the tournament.
Seahawks claim top seed after road win
SAN FRANCISCO — The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) defeated the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) 13-3 Saturday to clinch the number-one seed in the NFC conference for the upcoming NFL playoffs. Head Coach Mike Macdonald was all smiles after the win. “Incredibly proud of our team. All the things that we've been working at since we walked in the door, especially this year, is coming to life,” he said.
Huskies girls earn league win over Tigers
OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (2-6) defeated the Ephrata Tigers (1-8) 57-40 to earn their second win of the season. Head Coach Caleb Tovar said this game was great for building confidence in his players.
Huskies hold off late comeback by Tigers
OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (3-6) overcame the Ephrata Tigers (2-7) 61-57 after a late comeback attempt by the Tigers. Huskies Head Coach Juan Garcia was pleased with the composure his players showed Friday.
Jacks earn close win in Yakima
YAKIMA — In a game where Pierce Bierlink had 52 points, the Quincy Jacks (3-7) earned a tight 64-63 win over the La Center Wildcats at Yakima Dome in the SunDome Shootout. Head Coach Scott Bierlink said it was a great experience for his players.
Mavericks coach finds positives despite loss
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (3-7) fell to the Ridgeline Falcons 65-23 at home Tuesday. Despite the loss, Head Coach Matt Strophy was happy to find the small victories from their game.
Mavs extend win streak as Jay hits milestone
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (8-2) defeated the visiting Ridgeline Falcons 74-53 to earn their seventh straight win. Not only did they extend their win streak, but Brady Jay also surpassed 1,000 career points.
Eagles victorious in final non-conference game
CHENEY — The Eastern Washington Eagles took care of business Monday as they defeated Bushnell, 78-37 in the team's final game before conference games begin on Saturday, according to a statement by EWU athletics. Head Coach Joddie Gleason said it was a good tune up before they see their Big Sky competitors.
Cougars earn close win over Pepperdine
PULLMAN — Washington State Cougars (2-12) shook off a slow start and used a strong second half to earn a 66-63 win over Pepperdine on Sunday, opening West Coast Conference play with a hard-fought victory, according to a statement by WSU athletics.
COLUMN: Group of Five teams should still be in future playoffs
The first round of the 2025 college football playoffs are now behind us. In the blink of an eye the regular season has flown by. In just a couple of weeks, fans will have to await the next season of college football eagerly.
Wildcats’ Fisk departs for Portland State
ELLENSBURG — Central Washington athletics announced that Head Coach Chris Fisk would be departing the Wildcats football program to take the lead role at Portland State University. This change comes after a 10-2 season and a playoff appearance. “I have always said that good things happen to good people, and Coach Fisk is one of those people,” CWU Director of Athletics Dr. Dennis Francois said. “He has embodied everything we want in our Head Football Coach at Central Washington University—high character, integrity, the respect and trust of our entire department, and a tremendous ability to serve as a role model for our student-athletes. His presence within our department will be greatly missed, and I wish him nothing but the best at Portland State.”
December Basketball Gallery, 2025
COLUMBIA BASIN – The local high school athletes have been working hard at the start of their basketball seasons. With the schedules slowing down for winter break, it’s a good time to look back on the past month of competition and check in on some of the local athletes.
Wildcats’ Sims named conference player of the week
ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University junior women's basketball forward Capri Sims was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week after multiple double-digit performances during the winter break games. “Capri's performances last week were critical in our ability to get three wins, especially starting off against Cal State LA after our first loss last Saturday,” CWU Head Women's Basketball Coach Randi Richardson said. This is Sims third-career player of the week, first this season, and now joins Asher Cai as Wildcats to earn the distinction this season.
Freewind Martial Arts awards Joni’s Angels scholarship
MOSES LAKE — On Friday, Freewind Martial Arts and Joni’s Angels partnered together to award a scholarship to 9-year-old Elias Rustin. His thoughts on being named the first recipient were simple. “Really excited,” he said.
Jacks overcome Huskies in overtime
QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (2-5) defeated the visiting Othello Huskies (1-6) 58-54 in overtime Saturday. Quincy Head Coach Johan Farias said a league win was a great confidence booster for them. “We have a fairly young team and just knowing time and situation management, especially when we're up. That game should have not gone to overtime, but it did, but we pulled it off, so I'm happy,” Farias said.
Bierlink makes history in Jacks’ 80-71 win over Huskies
QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (2-6) defeated the Othello Huskies (2-6) 80-71 to earn their second win of the season. They also celebrated Pierce Bierlink becoming the all-time scoring leader in Quincy basketball history. “It feels amazing. I grew up as a kid in Quincy watching Quincy basketball games. My dad's been a coach here for quite a while. My brother played here, and I just think it's been a really big part of my growth here at Quincy,” Pierce said.
ACH Warriors off to undefeated start
COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (4-0) are off to an undefeated start to their season after defeating the Neah Bay Red Devils 71-49. Head Coach Graham Grindy was complimentary of his teams defensive effort. “Collectively, the defense was great. Along with that, we rebounded really well, and that allowed us to get out in transition. I would say we were pretty balanced inside and out, and also balanced with our scoring,” he said.
Cougs name Citowicki new women's soccer head coach
PULLMAN — Washington State athletics announced Chris Citowicki as its new head coach of the Cougars women’s soccer program. “We are extremely excited to have Chris leading our soccer program,” said Interim Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow. “He has a proven record of success and his dedication to developing student-athletes—not just as players, but as leaders, students, and members of our community—stood out immediately.”
Girls Basin basketball roundup, Dec. 11-17
MOSES LAKE — Winter sports is well under way as several girls basketball programs have multiple games checked off. Some have started strong while others seek improvement. See below how your favorite teams fared as of late and their current records.
Basin boys basketball roundup, Dec. 11–17
MOSES LAKE — Winter sports is well under way as several teams have multiple games under their belts. Some have fared well with hot starts while others are finding opportunities for growth. See below how your favorite teams fared as of late and their current records.
Mavericks shine on the road
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (2-0) are off to a strong start to their season after defeating the West Valley Rams 54-24 Tuesday. Head Coach Jose Tanguma said he was glad to see his wrestlers make improvements.
COLUMN: Seahawks ready for a Super Bowl run?
Ahead of their Thursday night showdown against the Los Angeles Rams (11-3), the Seattle Seahawks are currently 11-3 and one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The sea birds are on a four-game win streak. Their last loss?
Warden puts on strong performance against Wahluke
WARDEN — The Warden Cougars out dueled the Wahluke Warriors 54-18 on the mat Tuesday. Head Coach Johnny Hernandez was happy to see his wrestlers come out fast against the Warriors. “They came out with a little extra energy today. It's always good to see that. We do a good job of getting them juiced up before the match. They really performed tonight,” the coach said.
Mavs cheer qualifies for state competition
MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks cheer team has qualified for state competition after scoring in the 80’s at a competition at Hanford High School on Dec. 5. Since they have qualified, they will have a chance to compete for their ninth straight co-ed championship. “At this point, there is an expectation that we will do well,” Moses Lake High School Cheer Head Coach Mikey Carlile said. “It's more nerve wracking for me now; we're the defending co-ed state champions for the last eight years in a row. So, there's just pressure... just that expectation to continue that.”
ACH Warriors defense shines in win over Lions
COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (2-1) are off to a hot start after defeating the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (4-1) 61-18 at home Monday. Head Coach Nikki Strock said their start to the season has shown how much her team has grown since last season.
Jacks show fight in home loss
QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (1-4) fell in a competitive 67-47 game at home to the Grandview Greyhounds Saturday. Head Coach Scott Bierlink said his players competed against the Greyhounds but dug themselves too deep of a hole to climb out of.
Jacks girls stay focused despite home loss
QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (1-3) fell to the Grandview Greyhounds 71-29 at home Saturday. Head Coach Johan Farias remained optimistic despite the loss. “We've just got to keep battling,” he said. “We got the top four teams that we're playing right now in the league, and we just got to keep battling. That's the main message I got from my girls. We're young and we just got to keep fighting for everything.”