MIKE MAYNARD

COLUMN: Is this the year for the Zags?

As the Washington air turns bitter and cold, sports fans will trade in the cold beer, perhaps for a warm cider, as they sit down for the start of the college basketball season. After a second-round exit in the NCAA men's basketball tournament last March, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are poised to bounce back this season.

College football recap – Week 11

MOSES LAKE — As the college football playoff rankings start coming out every Tuesday, teams are starting to battle for a spot in the big dance. However, week 11 proved to be a destructive week for both top Washington football programs.

Leadership, talent drive Mavs to back-to-back state appearances

MOSES LAKE – On Saturday, the Moses Lake Mavericks competed in the 4A state cross country meet. Head Coach Larry Dagnon said he was proud of the effort his runner put forth over the weekend. “We wished we had run faster, obviously, but you could just tell when it was all said and done... that was a fast group of people they were racing with,” Dagnon said.

Basin football roundup – Week 10

MOSES LAKE – Basin football has wrapped up district play, and a few teams are heading to their respective state tournaments. Over the next couple of weeks, they will compete in a series of win or go home games in the pursuit of a state title. See below which teams advanced and their current record.

Soap Lake Salutes Fun Run celebrates veteran contributions

SOAP LAKE — On Saturday, a 2K and 5K fun run was held at Smokiam Park in Soap Lake. The fundraiser event was aimed at raising more awareness around Veterans Day, said event organizer Britton Baker.

Mavs punch ticket to state with district playoff win

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (10-0) defeated the Issaquah Eagles 49-35 at home in the 4A district playoff game to advance to the state tournament. Lineman Theo Kalasountas said it felt good to get a postseason win at home.

Warriors defeated in season finale

MATTAWA – The Wahluke Warriors (2-8) finished their season with a 28-6 loss at home to the Grandview Greyhounds on Thursday. For Keaton Zirker, he was grateful to put on the pads and represent the Warriors one last time.

Longwill’s first year brings culture shift to Jacks football

QUINCY – On Oct. 30, the Quincy Jacks (1-8) finished their season with a loss to the Othello Huskies. Head Coach Seth Longwill still came out proud of the foundation his team built in his first year leading them.

GALLERY: Highlights from Basin sports

MOSES LAKE — The last week of Basin sports saw a lot of stiff competition as district tournament games continue. Here are a few highlights from those games.

Basin soccer roundup Oct. 30 – Nov. 4

MOSES LAKE – District tournaments are well underway as multiple Basin teams are still competing for an opportunity to advance to the state tournament. In the last week some teams have fallen out while others are on the verge of earning a state tourney bid. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Soap Lake fun run to support veterans set for Saturday

SOAP LAKE – On Saturday, a 2k and 5k fun run is being held at 10 a.m. at Smokiam Park in Soap Lake. The fundraiser event is aimed at raising more awareness around Veteran’s Day, said event organizer Britton Baker.

COLUMN: Shaheed trade an underrated move

As defensive stars like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were getting traded out of New York, the Seattle Seahawks made an underrated move. They got an absolute speedster, Rashid Shaheed, from the New Orleans Saints for a fourth and fifth round draft pick in 2026.

Wahluke upsets Knights at Royal City

ROYAL CITY — The Wahluke Warriors (12-6) defeated the Royal Knights (13-4) 1-0 on Tuesday after outdueling them in overtime penalty kicks. It was a physical game from the beginning; Warriors Head Coach Cele Lopez said he was proud of the way his players stuck through it.

WA college football recap – Week 10

MOSES LAKE – October football has concluded, and several Washington college football teams are looking to take the next step in the last leg of the season. Some stumbled in week 10 while some get rest up on a bye week. See below how your favorite teams fared over the weekend and their current record.

Basin volleyball roundup Oct. 28 – Nov. 3

MOSES LAKE – The regular season for Basin volleyball has concluded and several teams are neck deep in district tournament competition. With eyes on a state tournament bid, many teams are hoping to peak at the right time. See below where your favorite team stands and their current record.

Lions defeat Eagles to extend win streak to five

MOSES LAKE — On Friday, the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian Lions (7-2) defeated the Soap Lake Eagles (2-6) 53-8 at home. Lions Head Coach Josh Kast said while the offense started hot, he was pleased with how the defense played as well.

Knights defeated in semifinal, hope still alive for state play

NACHES — The Royal Knights (13-4) were defeated 3-0 by the Naches Valley Rangers in the semifinal of the 1A district tournament Saturday. The Rangers captured momentum early and did not let it go.

Basin football roundup – Week 9

MOSES LAKE – Friday was the last day of October football for all and for many Basin teams, the final game of their regular season. As teams gear up for district tournaments, see below where your favorites stand and their current record.

Knights shutout win secures undefeated regular season

ROYAL – On Thursday, the Knights (9-0) football squad followed up the soccer game prior to it with a 76-0 win over the Wapato Wolves. Head Coach Wiley Allred said his players did their jobs to finish the regular season undefeated.

Knights advance in district soccer

ROYAL – The Knights (13-3) defeated Omak 5-0 in the first round of the 1A district tournament on Thursday. Head Coach Jens Jensen said the Knights became dangerous once they settled into the game.

Basin soccer roundup Oct. 23 – Oct. 29

MOSES LAKE – The regular season of Basin soccer has wrapped up, and many local teams are beginning district tournaments. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Royal Knights win in 3 sets

ROYAL CITY – The Royal Knights (8-9) finished their regular season with a 3-0 win over Kiona-Benton on the road. Their win solidified the Knights for a fifth-place tie in the South Central Athletic Conference, Head Coach Lisa Lawrence said.

COLUMN: Seahawks ready for second half of season

As the Seattle Seahawks come out of their bye week, they are 5-2 and tied for second in the NFC West division. With the first half of their season behind them, a lot of questions have been answered.

Jacks eliminated from 2A district tournament

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (10-7-1) were defeated 2-1 by the Prosser Mustangs and eliminated from the 2A district tournament on Tuesday. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said the loss was tough because of the potential he saw in his team.

2025 Community Health Partnership Fund award recipients announced

MOSES LAKE – On Oct. 28, Confluence Health and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group announced in a statement the selection of recipients for the 2025 Community Health Partnership Fund grants.

Basin volleyball roundup Oct. 21 – Oct. 20

MOSES LAKE – The end of Basin volleyball is near, and teams are gearing up for district tournament competition. See below where your favorite team stands and their current record.

College football recap – week 9

MOSES LAKE – It was a strong weekend for Washington college football teams across different levels. All four teams earned convincing wins in week nine.

Royal, Wahluke compete in SCAC League Championship

WALLA WALLA – The Royal Knights and Wahluke Warriors cross country teams travelled to Walla Walla Point Park on Saturday to compete in the South-Central Athletic Conference League Championships. This meet prepared the teams for the coming District 5 1A Championships to qualify for the state meet.

Basin football roundup – Week 8

MOSES LAKE – Week eight of Basin football has concluded. At this point in the season, not only do playoff teams start to solidify their standing, but seniors are recognized for their contributions to their respective programs. See below where your favorite team stands and their current record.

ACH dominant first quarter leads to home win

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (6-1) earned another dominant win at home, defeating Wellpinit 58-16 on Friday. Head Coach Brandon Walsh said his players continue to improve as the season unfolds.

Mavs win 2nd-straight game Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (9-6) defeated the Prosser Mustangs 3-1 at home Saturday. Head Coach Krystal Trammell said they went into the game remembering to have fun on the court.

Historic championship!

Mavs slowpitch brings state title trophy

YAKIMA – The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-1) are the 4A state champions after defeating the Chiawana Riverhawks 13-3 in five innings. This state title is the Mavericks first in school history.

Mavericks advance to state title game

YAKIMA – The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-1) are heading to the 4A state championship after a comeback win over Skyview. The Mavs overcame a 2-6 deficit to win the semifinal game 10-6. The Mavs were able to show off their mental strength by leaning on each other throughout the game.

Mavs dominate first round of state tournament

YAKIMA – The Mavericks slowpitch softball team is off to a hot start in the 4A state tournament after defeating eighth-seed Lake Washington 21-0 in the first round. Head Coach Mike Hofheins said while he liked what he saw, it’s important they remain focused on sustaining their momentum.

District champion Mavs set sights on state title

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks slowpitch softball team (16-1) is heading to the 4A state tournament as the first seed and will play Lake Washington at Kiwanis Park in Yakima. Head Coach Mike Hofheins said his players are ready to go.

Mavericks earn non-league win over Tigers

EPHRATA – On Thursday, the Moses Lake Mavericks (8-6) defeated the Ephrata Tigers (2-12) 3-0. Head Coach Krystal Trammell said they were able to try some new things during this game, and the players responded well.

Basin soccer roundup Oct. 16 – Oct. 21

MOSES LAKE – As the end of the Basin soccer season gets closer, local teams are starting to make their final pushes for the postseason. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Mavericks rewrite record books in league meet

MOSES LAKE – On Tuesday, the Mavericks cross country team hosted a Big 9 league meet at Blue Heron Park. Head Coach Larry Dagnon called the meet an unforgettable afternoon for the boys and girls teams.

COLUMN: Mariners season was a success

I imagine for any Mariners fan, Monday night had a bitter ending. From a 3-1 lead to a three-run homer that flipped the momentum on its head, the Mariners fell just short of what would have been their first ever World Series appearance. Though it may be too soon, I think it’s important to still acknowledge the season that the Mariners had. It’s hard to watch your favorite team fall short of making the championship game of their respective sport. Especially in the Mariners' case where historical implications were at play. However, the season the Mariners had should be remembered for a long time. From an outsider's perspective, I saw a lot of things that indicated a promising future for this franchise.

The Knights win third straight game

ROYAL CITY – The Knights shut down the Wapato Wolves on Tuesday at home 3-0 to improve to 11-3 on the season. Though the Knights will take a win any day, Head Coach Jens Jensen felt they left some scores out on the field.

Washington college football recap – week 8

MOSES LAKE – Week eight saw both outcomes of a game across Washington college football. Teams like the Eagles and the Wildcats continue to build momentum while the Cougars and Huskies hit a rough patch in their season. See below how your favorite teams fared and where they stand heading into week nine.

Basin volleyball roundup Oct. 14-20

MOSES LAKE – The final stretch in the 2025 Basin volleyball season is here. Up to this point, local teams have been doing everything they can to put themselves in a position to make a push for the postseason. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Mavs remain undefeated

MLHS defeats Eastmont 7-0 in Friday play

MOSES LAKE – On Friday, the Mavericks (7-0) defeated the Eastmont Wildcats 21-0 on the road. The Wildcats presented a tough challenge, but the Mavs responded when it mattered most.

‘Fiery Kam’ leads Mavs to third straight win

MOSES LAKE – On Saturday, the Mavericks (7-3-1) defeated the West Valley Rams 3-1 at Lions Field. Head Coach Alysha Overland feels great about where the teams stand after their third straight win. “I'm excited. That was a great game. Every girl on the field did their job. I'm super excited with where the team's headed after today,” she said.

Eastern defense leads to ranked win at home

CHENEY – The Eagles earned a statement conference win when they defeated the 24th-ranked Idaho Vandals 21-14 on Saturday at Roos Field. Backed by a strong defensive effort, Eastern Washington scored enough to defeat the Vandals. The Eagles improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky and 3-4 overall. “It was a dream for a coach to watch the defense play as well as we did. I am so proud of those guys. We were in control the entire game on defense,” Head Coach Aaron Best said.

Basin football roundup – Week 7

MOSES LAKE – Week seven of Basin football has concluded, and local teams are gearing up for postseason competition. Some teams continued their dominating league play, and others just fell short in their games. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current record.

Mavericks shine in home dual

MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, the Mavericks were productive in their dual meet against Eisenhower and Davis. Head Coach Tony Preston said success in a meet comes down to the fourth- and fifth-place swimmers; those who place there make a significant difference in the point differential.

Knights defeat Wahluke, remain unbeaten

ROYAL CITY – On Friday, the Royal Knights (7-0) and the Wahluke Warriors (2-5) met in a South Central Athletic Conference game. The Knights were dominant offensively, defeating the Warriors 65-6.

Mavs clinch district title

MLHS slowpitch punches ticket to state tourney

MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, Mavs slowpitch (16-1) defeated the Eastmont Wildcats 13-3 to become the 4A District Champions and punched their ticket to the state tournament. After splitting a doubleheader to end their season, Head Coach Mike Hofheins said they were on a mission.

Wildcats rank second in conference preseason poll

ELLENSBURG — On Oct. 14, the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference announced its preseason poll for the upcoming women’s basketball season. The Central Washington Wildcats were voted the second-best team in the conference and received four first-place votes, according to the statement by GNAC. Just ahead of them by a point and ranked first are the Western Washington Vikings. After finishing 23-8 last season, the Wildcats advanced to their first sweet 16 in the NCAA Division II tournament after overcoming Point Loma and Chico State. Heading into this season the Wildcats have reloaded and are poised to make another run, their coach said.