MOSES LAKE — Free throws had been a bugaboo for Moses Lake throughout the season.

Not when it mattered most on Tuesday.

Moses Lake knocked down 8-of-8 free throws in the final minute to eliminate West Valley from the postseason 66-62.

“They stepped up, they really did,” head coach John Hohman said. “They took care of things that needed to be taken care of — finish the game off — which was really nice.”

Every point was crucial as West Valley guard Dallin Cluff would not allow his team to go down willingly. Cluff finished with 29 points — 12 in the fourth quarter — and threw in an off-balance 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two with 3.5 seconds left.

“Some of the shots he made,” Hohman said. “I mean, he really stepped up. Made some tough, tough shots, especially over (Michael) Byers.”

However, senior Zach Phillips calmly sunk two more from the line to preserve the win.

Phillips and Walker, the two senior starters, scored a team-high 19 points each.

Walker was the catalyst early, scoring eight points in the first quarter and 12 in the first half. In his sixth game back from a foot injury suffered during football season, Walker looked the most like his self.

Most of Walker’s points came off being active in the post and on offensive rebounds.

“Now I’m getting my rhythm back, so I’m doing a lot more shooting,” he said.

Phillips scored several timely baskets, including a buzzer-beating 3 to end the first half and a scoop shot in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a two-point lead.

“I thought they (Phillips and Walker) led really well during the game,” Hohman said. “Prior to the game they did a great job. I think those younger guys have been a part of it and yet not in that kind of capacity where they needed to be leaders and kind of help guide and that’s what they need to do. Those younger guys have to really step up for us to be successful Thursday night.

“That’s a huge game.”

With the dispatch of West Valley and Wenatchee holding off Eastmont in double overtime 57-49 in the other play-in game, Moses Lake will face Davis for the third time this season.

“We’ve just got to play together,” Walker said.

Next: at Davis, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Score by quarters

ML — 15 15 15 21 66

WV — 8 17 14 23 62

Scoring

Gio Walker 19, Zach Phillips 19, Kyle Karstetter 12, Michael Byers 6, Evan McLean 6, Cory Kunjara 4

Other Basin scores

Boys: Riverside Christian 69, Moses Lake Christian 43

Liberty 62, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 55

Girls: Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 52, Asotin 33