PATEROS, Wash. — The Moses Lake Christian Academy Lady Lions traveled to Pateros Friday night to take on the North Central Washington 1B girls basketball league leading Nannies.

The Lady Lions clawed their way back from a 13-point halftime deficit to knock off the Nannies 46-44 Friday night.

Pateros managed to build an early lead in the first quarter and the Nannies held a 15-12 lead over the Lady Lions after just eight minutes of play Friday night.

The Lady Lions rallied in the second quarter to take an 18-16 lead over Pateros. However, the Nannies offense would not be denied before the break and Pateros closed out the half on a 15-0 scoring run to take a commanding 31-18 lead into the half.

With her team trailing in the second half on the road, Moses Lake Christian senior Esther Timofeyev took over for the Lady Lions in the second half. Timofeyev led all scorers with 34 points Friday night. Moses Lake Christian head coach Bryce McPartland said Timofeyev was able to take advantage of her athletic ability.

“She is a really good athlete,” he said. “The teams in this league don’t have an … answer for her.”

Although Timofeyev helped her team recover and close the gap in the second half, it was Melissa Verhage’s defense and Hannah Dietzen’s game-winner that pushed the Lady Lions past the Nannies.

With the game tied 44-44 late in the fourth quarter, Dietzen took advantage of a defensive lapse by Pateros to put the Lady Lions ahead for good, McPartland said.

“Timofeyev led the Lady Lions with 34, but it was Hannah Dietzen who was able to take advantage of a Pateros double team,” he said. “(She drove) all the way to the basket for the game-winner.”

Verhage was inconsistent during the first half and McPartland said his sophomore blossomed in the final two quarters.

“Verhage struggled in the first half,” McPartland said. “(She) was huge after the break scoring all six of her points. (She also) lock(ed) down Nannies star Rachel Beardslee.”

Verhage held Beardslee to one point Friday night.

Saturday night

Moses Lake Christian 85, Easton 35

MOSES LAKE — The Lady Lions left no doubt in their 85-35 win over the Jaguars Saturday night and Moses Lake Christian senior Esther Timofeyev outscored Easton to push the Lady Lions to the weekend sweep.

Easton managed to score 35 points in 32 minutes Saturday night and Timofeyev scored 49 points in just over three quarters of action to propel Moses Lake Christian.

Moses Lake Christian head coach Bryce McPartland said sophomore Melissa Verhage continued to play great basketball late in the season.

“Melissa Verhage had played the best six quarters (this weekend) as she has all season,” he said.

Verhage added 15 points for the Lady Lions.

The Lions are 4-7 this season and McPartland said his team cannot slide if the Lady Lions want to qualify for the postseason.

“Our margin for error is almost zero,” he said. “Each game has to be our championship game for the rest of the season.”

The Lady Lions return to the court Tonight when they host Cascade Christian at 6 p.m.