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December Basketball Gallery, 2025

CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 3 weeks AGO
by CALEB PEREZMIKE MAYNARD
| December 26, 2025 8:00 AM

COLUMBIA BASIN – The local high school athletes have been working hard at the start of their basketball seasons. With the schedules slowing down for winter break, it’s a good time to look back on the past month of competition and check in on some of the local athletes.

    Moses Lake’s Ella Wiltbank takes the ball down the court during a home game this season. The Mavericks have a 3-5 record so far as they head into their next matchup on Monday against Walla Walla.
 
 
    The Eagles’ Lenny Campos takes the ball across the court and looks for an opening to pass or make a move on the net. Soap Lake was 1-6 on the season before heading into winter break and will be on the road to face Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School when they return.
 
 
    Sophie Molitor from the Tigers runs the ball down the court after gaining possession during an earlier game this season. Ephrata is 0-7 on the season and their next game will be at home against Omak Saturday.
 
 
    EHS player Caiden Weber finds an opening to take a shot at the basket during a home game this season. The Tigers have a 1-6 record with their next matchup being at home against Omak Saturday.
 
 
    Treyson Kast from MLCA/CCS goes in for the layup during a game earlier this season. The Lions are undefeated at 7-0 going into winter break and will return in January to play DeSales.
 
 
    Othello’s Cumorah Giles pushes through the Connell defense to get to the basket during a game earlier this season. The Huskies are 1-6 and will return to the court in January to face their CWAC rival, the Ephrata Tigers.
 
 
    Kyre Wiltbank from the Mavericks takes the ball toward the net during a previous home matchup. Moses Lake is 6-2 on the season and will go on the road to face Hanford for their next matchup Saturday.
 
 
    Kingston Valdez from Othello looks down the court for an opening during a previous home matchup. The Huskies have a record of 2-6 and will return to the court in January to play at home the Ephrata Tigers.
 
 
    SanTahna Ferguson from the Lions guards against Lila Sackmann from the Devils during a rivalry game this season. Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School is 6-1 and Wilson Creek is 7-2 as they rest for winter break. The two teams return in January with the Lions against DeSales and the Devils against Oroville.
 
 
Yohary Magana from the Warriors looks to maneuver around Maggie Frank from the Warriors during their last matchup. Royal is 5-1 on the season with their next matchup on the road against Chaparral on Saturday and Wahluke is 0-7 with their next game against Granger Friday.


ARTICLES BY CALEB PEREZ

Erickson looks back on a busy and successful four-sport high school career
June 12, 2026 3 a.m.

Erickson looks back on a busy and successful four-sport high school career

WARDEN — A four-sport athlete is not someone you often come across due to the time and dedication it takes for success in one sport, but for Amaya Erickson, tackling that challenge was something she was up for in her senior season. “My family’s always been really big into sports,” said Erickson. “Both my parents have played and my siblings both play, so I guess they’re all a really great inspiration for me.”

Tigers start summer 3-1 after split with Sunnyside Christian
June 10, 2026 4:40 p.m.

Tigers start summer 3-1 after split with Sunnyside Christian

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tiger Baseball Club (3-1) finished their second matchup of the season as they split a doubleheader with Sunnyside Christian Tuesday evening. “I was pleased with a lot of aspects of the doubleheader,” said Tigers Head Coach David Tempel. “The summertime is all about development and getting some experience. The good part about (Tuesday) is we were in some different situations that we haven’t seen much, so we were able to learn from those and use those to our advantage.” Sunnyside was the first on the board during game one as they put up two runs in the top of the second inning. The Tigers responded at the bottom of the third as they put up five runs to claim the lead.

Fletcher named new Eagles volleyball head coach
June 11, 2026 3 a.m.

Fletcher named new Eagles volleyball head coach

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Eagles volleyball team will be under new leadership this fall as Erin Fletcher has been selected as the new head coach. She is following the successful tenure of the previous head coach, Nikki Noble, who helped guide the team to multiple state appearances over the years. “I’m so excited,” said Fletcher. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch these girls play the last couple years as a (referee). I’m really excited to be able to step in after Coach Noble and continue on that winning and competitive spirit that they’ve had for so long and kind of take it now to the next level.” Her love for athletics came from growing up in an athletic family of basketball players, but in second grade, she became the first in her family to start playing volleyball. From there, a passion for volleyball began to grow.