Central Valley girls top Moses Lake in State 4A battle of undefeated teams

TACOMA – The Central Valley girls basketball team trailed 36-34 with just under three minutes remaining and the Bears were in need of a spark.

It came as it has several times the last two years with that special telepathic thing that twins possess.

As Lexie Hull was trying to corral a rebound, she was falling forward looking down court. And there was her sister, Lacie, breaking away.

Lexie managed to tip the ball toward Lacie, who in turn dribbled into traffic and managed to make a 6-foot bank shot to tie the score and thrust the Bears to the finish they needed.

Central Valley finished by making 10 of 12 free throws in the final 1:19, as the No. 1-ranked Bears held off the Moses Lake Chiefs 47-39 in a showdown between unbeatens in a State 4A tournament opener Thursday at the Tacoma Dome.

“Just get it out so they couldn’t get the rebound,” Lexie said of what was going through her head as she got the ball to her sister. “That’s all that could hurt us, is them getting rebounds and offensive boards.”

CV (26-0) takes on another difficult opponent, Todd Beamer (21-4) Friday at 5:30 in the semifinals.

The Hull-to-Hull play started a 13-3 finish for CV.

“Their defense caused us some problems,” CV coach Freddie Rehkow said. “Their intensity … they came out to play.”

It was a physical game – what teams expect at state.

“It was a rough game, but you’ve got to get through it,” Lexie said.

The game was tight throughout as it developed into a possession-by-possession grinder.

Lexie Hull finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds as she played all 32 minutes. Abby Rathbun led Moses Lake (23-1) with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bears – who start two freshmen and three sophomores – didn’t panic under the Dome’s bright lights. The last time CV was in Tacoma, the Bears’ six sophomores were in sixth grade.

“Getting used to the noise and the big spaces was a key,” Lexie said.

Hull was asked how big a hurdle was it to face unbeaten Moses Lake in the opener.

“The biggest one we could have gotten,” she said. “First game … so it was good to get over it. You got to get through it eventually, so why not the first game.”

Rehkow called a late time out and had a simple message.

“I just challenged them,” Rehkow said. “It’s hard when you’re trying to challenge freshmen and sophomores.”