Moses Lake girls basketball season wraps up in Tacoma
TACOMA — Moses Lake head coach Matt Strophy said he thought the emotions of the season being over on Friday in Tacoma were more than he, or anyone, expected.
Moses Lake finished its season with a loss to Issaquah, 68-57, in the consolation bracket of the 4A Girls Hardwood Classic Tournament. The Chiefs closed out their season with a record of 20-5.
Strophy said it will take some time for their accomplishments to outweigh the pain of defeat for everyone.
“We may be upset and disappointed now, but the perspective on the season will come, maybe sooner for some,” He said. “It may be sooner for underclassmen, knowing they’re coming back. But, for seniors, it will come.”
The Chiefs head coach said it makes it tougher being in games on both Thursday and Friday that he felt they had a chance at winning.
In Thursday’s 56-51 defeat against Union, free throw shooting proved costly, with the Chiefs shooting under 50 percent for the game from the stripe.
On Friday, the Chiefs saw a very different Issaquah team than the one they handled easily early on in the regular season. Strophy credited the development of their opponent under their first-year head coach and said. “they’re playing basketball more, not running sets for their coaches.”
Shooting over 50 percent from deep, Issaquah managed to hold the Chiefs at bay after building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter.
Madisyn Clark led the Chiefs with 17 points in her final game for Moses Lake on Friday. Anna Olson and Meagan Karstetter both finished with 10 points, with Karstetter leading the Chiefs with eight rebounds.
Clark is one of five seniors who finished up their basketball careers at Moses Lake on Friday, a group that Strophy has known since they were young through his daughter, another Moses Lake senior.
Strophy credited the balance between fun and hard work of this group of players he’s known from an early age.
“They worked hard when it was time to work hard,” he said. “And they goofed off, had fun, laughed and cried and had all those things throughout the season, and their careers, when it was the right time.”
The Moses Lake head coach said they’ve left behind a great legacy for the younger players in the program to follow. Looking at the nine players who made the trip to Tacoma coming back next season, Strophy said a lot of the questions now will be answered over the summer.
The Chiefs coach said he’s interested to see how players handle their changing rolls.
“The girls just have to evolve, and change, with the role that is presented in front of them, that they earn, or deserve, or work for, whatever that may be,” Strophy said. “And that’s the fun part of coaching.”
With eighteen seasons under his belt, Strophy said he’s looking forward to continuing the legacy the players have built next season. The goal, the Moses Lake coach said, is always making it back to the Tacoma Dome.
“I think we’re in good shape, and I’m looking forward to it,” Strophy said.