RICHLAND–Dayton-Waitsburg edged ahead of the Liberty Christian Lady Patriots in the third quarter then caught fire in the fourth quarter to win one of the team's highest-scoring games of the season, 74-56. With the EWAC win, the Lady D-Dubs are 2-6 in league, 2-14 overall.

Liberty Christian faced Dayton-Waitsburg again this week, playing Wednesday, Jan. 29, then finishes its regular-season home appearances Friday night against league-leading Columbia at the Waitsburg gym, game time 6 p.m. Senior round ball players Kira Boggs, McKenzie Dobbs, Destiny Brincken and Kirsten Miller will be honored.

The final weekend of regular-season games are at Tri-Cities Prep on Saturday, February 1, and at DeSales, Tuesday, February 4.

Intensity on defense played a big role in DW's win over Liberty, a game that was either team's to win down to the last minutes.

"I am very proud of the girls that came off the bench for the girls that were in foul trouble," Coach Tamira Culley said. "Another all-around team effort that results in a win. Coming back and winning after being down double digits is a first for them. They took better care of the ball and got it done."

The first quarter closed with the Lady D-Dubs trailing 13-8, and Liberty Christian extended that a little with a 31-24 margin at half time.

But DW scorched the nets with 20 third-quarter points, zipping ahead of the Lady Patriots 44-40 after three quarters.

And they weren't finished. Dayton-Waitsburg poured 30 points through the hoop in the final eight minutes, eclipsing LC's 16 fourth-quarter points.

"The win wasn't yet in our grasp in the last minutes of the game," Culley said. "They upped the defense and intensity, got the turnovers and kept passing it inside. The girls should be very proud of their play.

"The intensity on defense kept the energy up and helped the DW ladies succeed tonight."

At Touchet, the Lady Indians, behind the hot hand of Briana Andrade, broke away with a 19-2 first quarter.

DW recovered and played the Indians even in the second quarter, going into the break trailing 30-14. The third quarter was another even-scoring eight minutes, and then Touchet's Areli Orozco and Andrade took off with 10-point run to open the fourth quarter and seal the win.

"Touchet is an aggressive team," Culley commented. "We did not handle the pressure or respond on the offensive end. Cassidy Laughery had a great game for DW and did her best to inspire her team, scoring 12 points."

At Pomeroy Jan. 21, the Lady Pirates showed their top-ranked stuff with a 68-25 win.

"Pomeroy has a great program with several strong players," Culley said.

DW was held to 10 points or less each quarter while the Pirates poured double figures through each period.

Sadie Seney led DW scoring with 15. Sydney Watko scored 19 and Heidi Heytvelt scored 15, with Keely Maves scoring 10.

Dayton-Waitsburg 74, Liberty Christian 56 (1-24)

DW 8 16 20 30-74

LC 13 18 9 16-56

DW: Forney 10, Laughery 3, Acevedo 1, Boggs 4, Brincken 6, Culley 6, Benavides 18, Seney 26.

3s: Culley 2.

FT: Acevedo 1, Boggs 2, Seney 3. Rebounds: 41. Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 21. 

LC: L. Reed 6, E. Reed 28, Bush 15, Culver 2, Thompson 3, Lindsay 2.

3s: Bush 3. FT: E. Reed 13, Thompson 3. Rebounds: 25. Turnovers: 33. Fouls: 20.

Touchet 59, Dayton-Waitsburg 31 (1-22)

DW 2 12 10 7-31

Tou 19 11 12 17-59

DW: Laughery 12, Boggs 3, Brincken 3, Benavides 4, Seney 9.

3s: Laughery 3, Boggs, Brincken.

FT: Laughery 3, Seney 1.

Rebounds: 28. Turnovers: 34.

Touchet: Smith 2, Luna 2, Orozco 9, Skramstad 12, Andrade 22, Kincaid 5, Luna 5, Olson 2.

3s: Orozco, Andrade 2.

FT: Skramstad 2, Kincaid 3, Luna 3.

Rebounds: 28. Turnover 19.

-Chronicle photo

Mackena Culley (21) puts some "D" on a Touchet guard in action from DW's loss to the Lady Indians last week.

Pomeroy 68, Dayton-Waitsburg 25 (1-21)

DW 7 10 4 4-25

Pom 23 22 12 11-68          

DW: Forney 4, Boggs 2, Brincken 2, Benavides 2, Seney 15.

3s: none. FT: Seney 5.

Pomeroy: Wolf 6, Heytvelt 15, M. Watki 2, Caruso 3, S. Watko 19, Herres 2, Maves 10, Steele 4, Kowatsch 7.

3s: Wolf 2, Heytvelt 3, Caruso 1, Kowatsch 2.

FT: S. Watko 1, Maves 2, Steele 2, Kowatsch 1.