Chiefs hand No. 2 Grizzlies first loss

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake head coach Matt Strophy had not missed a practice in his 20-year career.

So, of course, before a rematch against second-ranked Sunnyside he was forced to stay home because of an illness. Assistant coaches Chad Utter and Brant Mayo led the final two practices before Friday and suggested the in-game adjustment that swung the outcome in Moses Lake’s favor.

After Ashlee Maldonado scored nine points in the first quarter, defensive stopper Abby Rathbun was switched onto the Sunnyside guard. Maldonado would only score seven more points for the rest of the game and Moses Lake (6-2, 13-3) handed previously unbeaten Sunnyside (9-1, 16-1) its first loss 48-45.

“Girls always get game-ball, but really I have to give some props to my assistant coaches,” Strophy said. “This is the first time in my career of 20 years that I haven’t been at a practice because that’s how sick I was. Coming into the Sunnyside game, I don’t want to be staying home.”

Maldonado began the game with three 3-pointers in the first quarter and Sunnyside held a 15-7 lead before Jamie Loera made two free throws after she was fouled on a half-court heave as time expired.

The extra two points proved precious in a game that was within single digits for its entirety.

Rathbun scored two of her game-high 21 points on a put-back with a minute left in the first half, giving Moses Lake its first lead 22-21. However, the advantage was short-lived as Destiny Salinas canned a corner 3-pointer to close the half.

Moses Lake, with a rare size advantage, began to impose its will on the interior in the second half. Rathbun scored eight points and a seven-point deficit turned into a three-point lead through three quarters.

“The last Sunnyside I didn’t get on the board very much and I know for this team to be successful other girls have to make the shots or if they’re not making them I’ve got to make them,” she said. “I know that in the past we beat them by dishing it in to me inside and so I knew if I could off balance just enough and then seel under and just work my post game.”

Emilee Maldonado began to come alive in the fourth quarter, pulling up for a mid-range jumper that tied the game 38-38. The Grizzlies retook the lead 41-38 and later led 43-42 after two Ashlee Maldonado free throws.

But in the biggest moment Loera took over.

First, she drove left for a right-handed scoop shot that gave the Chiefs a 44-43 lead.

Next, two clutch free throws with just over a minute to play.

Then, after an Emilee Maldonado lay-up cut the lead to one point, Loera drove left again and scored with 15 seconds left.

“Maybe the defense thinks I’m going to shoot with my left hand so maybe just switching it up on them,” she said. “Maybe it will just confuse them a little and it probably did so it was good that it happened.”

With the win, Moses Lake jumped from No. 8 to No. 3 in the RPI poll and took down the top-ranked team for the second game in a row.

“Playing as team and together we can really get the job down and that’s what we did both times,” Loera said.

Box score

ML — 9 13 12 14 48

SS — 15 9 7 14 43

Moses Lake: Abby Rathbun 21, Jamie Loera 19, Jessica Olson 6, Taylor Stevens 2

Sunnyside: Ashlee Maldonado 16, Emilee Maldonado 11, Chastitee Garza 9, Destiny Salinas 5, Jessica Mendoza 2, Lexi Skyles 2

Moses Lake 55, Eastmont 35

EAST WENATCHEE — Jamie Loera scored a game-high 24 points and Moses Lake beat Eastmont 55-35.

The Chiefs only led 20-18 at halftime, but held the Wildcats to 17 second-half points.

Abby Rathbun and Ellie Mayo scored nine and seven points, respectively.