SPOKANE - Lowell Kirkwood and Joe Timefeyev scored 18 points each to lead the Moses Lake Christian Academy (MLCA) boys basketball team to a win over Wellpinit at the regional tournament Friday. The victory sets up a first round game with Almira/Coulee-Hartline (ACH) Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at the Spokane Arena.

"This was a very big win for the team as we now advance to the state championships," coach Duke Wood said. "The guys played absolutely beautiful for all four quarters of the game."

The game was close for the first 16 minutes as Wellpinit took a 16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lions caught fire in the second quarter and out scored the Redskins 13-6 to go up 28-22 at the half.

"I told my team before tip off we wanted to stay close and compete in the first eight minutes," Wood said. "The second quarter we relaxed a bit on the offensive end and ran our stuff very well. We were down four points with  two minutes left in the half and the guys kicked it up a notch on the defensive end finishing the quarter on an 8-0 run."

MLCA picked up where the team left off in the second quarter to push its lead to 47-32.

"The guys came out of the locker room with the idea that this game was our game to win, and a look as if nothing was going to hold them back," Wood said. "We attacked the basket on offense and got to the free throw line where we shot very well for team that has struggled there all year.   Every time we would score and get another stop defensively our confidence rose."

The Lions shot 73 percent from the charity stripe on the game.

MLCA, up by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, never took it's foot off the gas as the Lions pumped in another 16 to win going away. Wellpinit scored 19 points in the quarter to make a game of it, but it wasn't enough to overcome the large deficit.

"We knew they were going to come out firing with a win or go home attitude," Wood said. "But we also knew if we protected the ball and rebounded well we had a great chance to win."

The victory over the Redskins runs the Lions win streak to 21 games.

"We worked for five days on everything Wellpinit could throw at us offensively and defensively," Wood said. "We had a great game plan and the guys worked it to perfection. For a group of kids that have been undersized all year long, they have come together as a group and played pretty well."

Wellpinit started four kids over 6'3. MLCA has only one a player on the team who is over 6'2.

"To battle them for every rebound was vital," Wood said. "We were only out rebounded by one, 27-26. That was a big part of this game."

Thomas Knopp added 14 points and seven boards for the Lions. Alex Allsbrook chipped in nine points and Connor Webb finished with five points and five steals.

Wood said he expect the game against the Warriors on Thursday to be their toughest test yet as the team tries to bring home a state championship.

"ACH has been there before, so we know they will be coming after us," he said. "It (the game) should be a real barn burner."

If the Lions beat ACH, they will face the winner of the Muckleshoot King's Way Christian game.

Joe Timefeyev was named MVP of the 1B Central Washington Conference for the third year in a row.

Lowell Kirkwood and Thomas Knopp were named First Team All-League. Connor Webb, was named Second Team All-League, and Duke Wood was named Coach of the Year.