MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake High School girls basketball made big strides this season.

The Chiefs put in long hours in the gym and the hard worked paid off as Moses Lake went from also-ran (3-18) in 2011-12 to Big Nine league champion with a 14-1 record in 2012-13.

The Chiefs won a first-round district playoff game against Wenatchee Feb. 7, but was knocked out of the postseason by Davis, the only team Moses Lake lost to in the regular season, in round two Feb. 9.

But it wasn't just the locals who recognized the programs complete about-face as four players were selected to the Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference All-League Team.

Named to the First-Team All Offensive squad were freshman Jessie Loera, sophomore McKenna Walker and junior Emily Olson. Junior Kaitlyn Stevens was named Honorable Mention. Loera was also tabbed as the league's defensive Most Valuable Player.

Loera averaged 7.5 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assist, and 3.3 steals for the Chiefs

"Jessie had a huge impact on our team this year, both offensively and defensively.  Offensively, she can score, rebound, and pass.  Jessie does everything at such a high level.  She understands the game and even though she is just a freshman, she has so much experience," coach Matt Strophy said. "As our point guard, Jessie led the attack to the tune of 58.4 points per game.  The nice thing about Jessie is she's so unselfish.  She is a pass-first point guard who has the ability to score too, and that makes her very hard to guard.  As for her defense, the opposing coaches felt she was the best player in our league.  That's saying something. She really makes things difficult for the opposing ball-handlers and she can anticipate the pass so well.  She is a young player who has unlimited potential."

Walker scored 12.9 points per game, pulled down 5.2 rebounds, and had 2.6 steals per contest for Moses Lake.

"McKenna came to us from Moses Lake Christian Academy and was a wonderful addition to our team. We didn't have McKenna for any of our spring, summer or fall basketball activities, but she is such a basketball talent that we had to have her on our varsity roster," Strophy said.  "She came in without any understanding of our man and zone offense, out of bounds plays or any of our defenses. But she worked her way into our starting line-up and became our leading scorer and rebounder.  Her teammates voted her the most improved player in our program.  She has such a desire to learn and get better, and is such a hard worker that she may spend more time on the hardwood (literally) than any of our other players.  She is only a sophomore, so the sky is the limit for McKenna."

Olson knocked down 9.6 points per game for the Chiefs, grabbed 4.6 rebounds, and averaged 1.8 assists and steals over the season.

"Emily was an Honorable Mention selection last year when we had eight 4A teams in our league.  She was also last year's team MVP, so she was designated as our best returning player.  She had the most expectations of any of our returning players and she definitely fulfilled those expectations for us," Strophy said.  "Emily was again voted our team's MVP.  She is a true leader on and off the floor, and is willing to do whatever the team needs to be successful.  There were games where she scored over 20 points, but there were games when she didn't score at all.  When she didn't score, she was rebounding, passing, making hustle plays, and playing great defense.  She is one of those players who is hard to have off the floor.  She does so much of everything to help us win."

Stevens averaged 6.7 points per game, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 2012-13 for Moses Lake.

"Kaitlyn was our constant inside force.  She may not have been the tallest, strongest, quickest or fastest post on our roster, but she was our most consistent and productive post," Strophy said. "She understands the game and can read her opponents well.  Once she knows how her opponent will play her, she makes the necessary adjustments to be productive and help our team win."

All four players will dedicate the month of July to play on a select AAU team that travels around the west coast.

The girls weren't the only members of the team to receive deserved recognition, as Strophy was voted Big Nine Coach of the Year.

"This is my 11th season as coach of the Moses Lake Chiefs girls' basketball program, and the first time I have been recognized by my peers, so this is a great honor for me and the coaching staff.  I have to mention the staff because I am only as good as my players and coaches make me," Strophy said.  "I have been lucky to have a fairly consistent staff over the years, and that creates a lot of cohesion and unity.  We are great friends on and off the court, yet we still challenge each other to get better and be better so we can give the girls the best coaches possible.  James Getzinger, Brady Wilbank, Chad Utter, Kellie Knauss, Doug Philen, and Shelby Kenner have all been on the sidelines with me over the years and deserve quite a bit of the recognition that I received this year.  Without them, this award would not have been possible."

The coaches, however, Strophy said, aren't the only people who have helped him achieve success and recognition as the leader of the Moses Lake High School girls basketball program.

"I must also mention my family and the impact they have had on my coaching career," he said. "My assistants and I make a number of sacrifices throughout a season, but our families make big sacrifices as well.  Behind every great coach is an even better spouse.  My wife Tracy and my kids Robbie and CJ understand what it takes to be successful in coaching high school sports, and I appreciate their support."