Mount Si holds on to lead against Tahoma

Published 9:17 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Mount Si Wildcats stormed out to a huge lead after three periods, then hung on to a 53-48 win over Tahoma in non-league boys’ basketball action Friday night at Mount Si High School in the Wildcats’ home opener.

The Bears, a South Puget Sound League 4A school from just down State Route 18 in Maple Valley, could not bear the Wildcats’ onslaught early, but caught fire from behind the three-point line in the fourth quarter after they had been down 43-16 just a few minutes earlier in the third quarter.

Forward Jeremy Johnston led the Wildcats’ offensive attack with 15 points, and he also contributed significantly on defense for Mount Si. Guard Erik Tierney chipped in 12 points.

The game started out all Mount Si with Johnston scoring the first eight Wildcat points in a first quarter where baskets, especially early in the quarter, were few and far between. Tahoma caught up and it was 11-8 at the end of one for Mount Si.

Mount Si outscored Tahoma 15-5 in the second quarter and was up 26-13 at the half. John Karlen netted four points to lead a balanced attack in the quarter.

Most of Tierney’s points came in the third quarter, as the Wildcats outscored Tahoma 20-12, and it looked as if the Bears would head up over Tiger Summit on SR 18 having been creamed. Tahoma’s Ryan Reese and Ryan McFarlane, however, would have none of that, leading the Bears on a lengthy run by hitting several three-point baskets in the fourth quarter.

Reese finished with 19 points to lead all scorers in the game. Tahoma drew as close as three points, then the Wildcats’ defense took over, with Karlen and Tierney providing critical stops. The Bears kept trying, but a three-point attempt with 20 seconds left that would have put Tahoma down by two points rolled in and out of the basket, and Logan Ratcilffe sealed the game with a free throw.

Mount Si evened its record at 1-1 for the year with the victory.