YAKIMA — The Ephrata Lady Tigers are learning some hard lessons this season, and Tuesday's 58-12 loss to East Valley on Tuesday was another reminder: this is a building year for the program.

Overall, the young Ephrata squad has no seniors and little varsity experience.

With sophomore guard Jill Linehan sidelined and awaiting medical clearance, Tiger freshmen Maycee Black and Sophie Molitor have been placed into key roles.

Scoreboard outcome aside, the two ninth-graders showed encouraging signs for the future.

Black led Ephrata with five points and five rebounds in 23 minutes and connected on the team's only three-pointer of the night. 

Molitor was tasked with running the offense and logged a team-high 26 minutes, finishing with one of two Tiger assists.

Against the Red Devils, though, offense was a struggle. Ephrata connected on just two field goals for the evening: Black's three-pointer and a bucket from Ellie Kono. The remaining seven points came at the free-throw line.

The Tiger varsity recently added a trio of underclassmen – Rebecca Wiser, McKinley Cobb, and Brooklynne Addink – from the jayvee unit. Collectively, the Ephrata youth movement is experiencing its growing pains in one of the toughest prep basketball conferences in the state.

Ephrata (0-7 in league, 0-11 overall) is among 62 Class 2A schools in Washington and one of nine competing in the CWAC. Of those CWAC opponents, five are currently ranked in the top 20 statewide, with three in the top 10.

Tough company indeed.

CWAC Scoreboard: Tuesday, Jan. 6: Selah 52, Prosser 48 | Othello 16, Ellensburg 70 | Quincy 35, Toppenish 75 | Ephrata 12, East Valley 58