Moses Lake basketball falls to West Valley in OT
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Kyle Karstetter dribbles up the court Friday against West Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake guard Evan McLean puts up a shot against West Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake forward Gio Walker looks to pass out of the post.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Michael Byers tries to control the ball between two West Valley defenders.
MOSES LAKE — Elation turned to devastation in just over four minutes of game time.
Moses Lake erased an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and held a three-point lead late before West Valley’s Logan Kinloch rattled in a 3-pointer to force overtime.
The Rams scored the first five points of the extra period and won 69-68.
“I think anybody can beat anybody,” head coach John Hohman said. “I think the league is that close. I mean, it’s evidenced tonight. We just didn’t finish, that’s the bottom line.”
Moses Lake kept West Valley at arm’s length throughout the game and led by eight points at the start of the third quarter.
However, the Rams whittled the lead down to one point after three quarters and scored the first 12 points of the fourth.
Kinloch and Dallin Cluff were the catalysts with five points each in the fourth quarter.
Down 11, the Chiefs answered with dynamic play from Kyler Karstetter, Cory Kunjara and Gio Walker. The trio combined for 14 of Moses Lake’s 16 fourth-quarter points.
Walker forced a turnover and passed ahead to a sprinting Evan McLean for a lay-up, cutting West Valley’s lead to four points.
Next, Kunjara stepped into a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a one-point game. Walker stole the ball again and euro stepped into the go-ahead score, 55-54.
Karstetter scored on a put-back before Kinloch’s game-tying 3.
“I thought our bigs did a nice job,” Hohman said. “Michael Byers came in and did a nice job. Rebounding-wise, we out-rebounded them 42-26, but you’ve also got to hit those shots inside and you’ve got to finish.”
Cluff took over in overtime with six of West Valley’s 10 points.
Currently, West Valley would return to Moses Lake next week for a district play-in game.
“Tuesday (against Wenatchee) is a big-time game for seeding and everything,” Hohman said. “That’s a big-time game.”
Score by quarters
WV — 10 14 18 17 10 69
ML — 15 16 12 16 9 68
Scoring
Kyle Karstetter 20, Cory Kunjara 17, Gio Walker 11, Evan McLean 8, Zach Phillips 6, Michael Byers 4, Dax Lindgren 2