Devils Claim Road Victory Against Eagles in Districts

Wilson Creek Devils defeat Soap Lake Eagles 51-44 in physical 1B District 5 tournament matchup

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Wilson Creek Devils (16-5) earned a 51-44 road victory against the Soap Lake Eagles (12-7) in the second round of the 1B District 5 basketball tournament. The game was a competitive and physical battle, with the Devils taking an early lead that they maintained throughout much of the game. The Eagles fought back in the third quarter to tie it up, but the Devils pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Why it matters

This game was an important matchup in the 1B District 5 tournament, with the winner advancing to face the top-seeded Waterville-Mansfield team. The game highlighted the competitive spirit and defensive intensity of both teams as they battled for a spot in the next round of the postseason.

The details

The Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Devils quickly responded and took the lead by the end of the first quarter. Wilson Creek maintained their advantage through the second quarter, with Ady Leslie, Lila Sackman and Kaydence Leslie each hitting three-pointers. Soap Lake kept the game close, led by Liana Sushik's three three-pointers in the quarter. In the third quarter, the Eagles bounced back with a strong offensive performance to tie the game at 34-34 heading into the fourth. The final quarter was a physical battle, with Wilson Creek ultimately pulling away late to secure the 7-point victory.

  • On Thursday evening, the game was played in the second round of the 1B District 5 tournament.
  • The Devils had played a home playoff game against Easton the night before the Soap Lake matchup.

The players

Wilson Creek Devils

The Wilson Creek Devils are a high school basketball team with a 16-5 record that earned a road victory against the Soap Lake Eagles in the 1B District 5 tournament.

Soap Lake Eagles

The Soap Lake Eagles are a high school basketball team with a 12-7 record that lost to the Wilson Creek Devils in the 1B District 5 tournament.

Jeff Sackmann

The head coach of the Wilson Creek Devils.

Lila Sackmann

The top scorer for the Wilson Creek Devils, putting up 22 points in the game.

Kaydence Leslie

A player for the Wilson Creek Devils who scored 16 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I'm super proud of them. We kind of came up with a little bit of a different game plan that I think was able to bother them a little bit, but the girls executed it.”

— Jeff Sackmann, Wilson Creek Devils Head Coach (theolympian.com)

“My girls have a lot of heart. I only played six of them tonight, two different ones hit the deck, had bumps and bruises, and they sucked it up and came back in and battled through it.”

— Jeff Sackmann, Wilson Creek Devils Head Coach (theolympian.com)

“I think the girls were a little anxious, (had) a little extra energy and shots just didn't fall. That was a big part of it. We had a lot of good looks, but just missed a lot of easy shots early in the game and then late in the game, so they kind of pulled away from that.”

— Leonard Lundgren, Soap Lake Eagles Head Coach (theolympian.com)

“Just take one day at a time, work hard. I always tell the girls, 'We win as a team, and we lose as a team, just go out there and have some fun.' And so tonight was a prime example.”

— Leonard Lundgren, Soap Lake Eagles Head Coach (theolympian.com)

What’s next

The Devils went on the road to face the number-one-seeded Waterville-Mansfield on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Eagles face the winner of the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School vs. Pateros game held Saturday at noon.

The takeaway

This hard-fought game between the Devils and Eagles showcased the competitive spirit and defensive intensity of both teams as they battled for a spot in the next round of the 1B District 5 tournament. The Devils' ability to execute their game plan and maintain their composure down the stretch proved to be the difference in securing the road victory.