SPOKANE — Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian had its season come to an end, falling to Mount Vernon Christian, 49-41, in its opening game at the 1B Girls Hardwood Classic in Spokane.

The Lions scored the opening bucket of the game, hanging right with Mount Vernon Christian for most of the opening quarter.

Both teams headed into the second tied at 11-11.

The Lions jumped out to a five-point lead early in the second quarter, leading 19-14. The Hurricanes stormed back with a 9-0 run to end the first half, taking a 23-19 lead into the locker room.

The Hurricanes kept cooking in the third, led by a surge from Josie Droog on their way to a 10-point lead near the end of the third quarter. MLCA cut it to eight before the end of the quarter, going into the final eight minutes down 40-32.

Kali Kast led the Lions in the third with nine of her 15 points coming in the quarter.

MVC danced around a double-digit lead for much of the fourth, with the Lions making a surge in the final minutes to try and come back. MLCA managed to trim the lead down to six in the final minutes, but the Hurricanes did enough in the final moments to hold on and secure the win.

The Lions managed to hold the Hurricanes to just over 29 percent, but 19 turnovers and a 22 percent clip from the free throw line proved costly down the stretch.

Kast led the Lions with 15 points in their final game of the season, adding six rebounds and a pair of assists. Senior Deana Gulenko finished with seven points and five rebounds Wednesday evening.

MLCA head coach Josh Kast said the Lions started out the season with goals of being league champions, district champions, make it to the round of 16 and ultimately walk away with a trophy.

Josh Kast said his team fell one goal short, but the vision has been planted with a young team moving forward

“They’re disappointed, of course, but I think they see their potential,” Josh Kast said. “They know what it takes to get on this level, and know what it takes to make that next step.”

The Lions faced MVC in January earlier this season. Josh Kast said he knew Droog would give them issues on the perimeter with her ability to get her shot.

“We knew we’d have our hands full with her, but, overall, I think my girls played them pretty tough,” he said. “They believed that they could win tonight. They just kind of ran out of time.”

Ultimately, Josh Kast said, the Lions came up just a couple of bounces short.

Gulenko, a senior, talked about how much this group has meant to her as she finished her career with MLCA. Gulenko said the bonds have gotten stronger everyday, and they won’t go away now that she’s moving on.

“These girls are like my sisters, my family,” she said. “I’m super proud of us making it, and winning league, winning district, playing in the round of 16, winning there. It’s gonna be super memorable, and I can’t wait to see what they do next year.”

Kali Kast said the Lions “learned how to win” this season after facing struggles the past couple of years. This year, she said it just kind of clicked.

“Our next goal is to make it to state, and just have it click,” Kali Kast said.

The MLCA head coach said he thinks this group sees the potential they have, and now, they know what it takes at this stage.

Josh Kast said he told his players to go watch games the next two days in Spokane, and see what these teams have the Lions don’t. This, paired with more work in the offseason, he said, will help them make it even further next year.