The Mount Si boys basketball squad tuned up for a huge set of games this week with a couple of relatively easy wins.

The Wildcats got another great effort from Tanner Riley as they took care of the Juanita Rebels, 72-59, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Mount Si swept a home-and-home series against the Rebels that started with a Jan. 31 win at Juanita.

Riley scored 33 as Mount Si built their lead to as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter, before the Rebels rallied against the Wildcats’ deep reserves.

“The game went well,” said Mount Si coach Jeff D’Ambrosio. “We played hard, played good defense, position-wise.”

Juanita got physical on the court, but D’Ambrosio felt the team responded with more skill than in their prior meeting with that team.

The Wildcat reserve unit of Tucker Edwards-King, Zach Brevick, Spencer MacEwan and Dillon Shane played the last half of the fourth quarter. The Rebels tried their best to make things interesting late in the game, but at the end of the day, the ‘Cat reserves shut the door and had racked up quality time on the court — an important factor for the postseason.

Brevick was pleased to get the chance to play. Practice is fine, “but playing in the games is definitely what you want,” he said.

Dallas Smith added 12 points to pace the Wildcats. He was floor leader for the reserve unit down the stretch.

“It’s a little different for me, because in a tight game, usually Tanner’s in there,” Smith said. “When the reserves come on, coach usually puts me or Spencer at point and we just kind of dribble out the clock.”

Overall, Smith thought he did fine.

The Wildcats gradually built up their lead as the game moved along. The Rebels tried to stay close, and were down just nine, 33-24, at the half. But a 9-0 run by Riley in the third quarter left Juanita far behind. The ‘Cats continued to pull away before Juanita attempted a comeback, but by then it was too late. Shane, Brevick and MacEwan scored buckets, helping to maintain the lead to the final buzzer.

Smith believes that giving these reserves playing time will be helpful.

“It’s just good in these blowout games to get them time on the court. In the tough games, Metro teams like to press, which makes us tired, so we’re going to need lots of fresh bodies in there when that happens,” he said.

If Mount Si has any chance to make state, they’ll likely have to beat at least one of the tough Metro teams also aiming to get there: Franklin, Rainier Beach, Bainbridge, Seattle Prep or O’Dea. Those who have followed the local scene this year know all of these teams are very tough, with three of them being ranked.

The Wildcats traveled to Interlake last Friday, Feb. 6, and rolled to an easy 73-49 win. No stats were available as of the Valley Record’s deadlines. Mount Si with the win has now won five straight going into this week.

Mount Si will host Mercer Island for senior night, 8 p.m. Thursday Feb. 12. Several seniors, among them Brevick and Tyson Riley, will be honored prior to the contest.

The Mount Si boys basketball squad tuned up for a huge set of games this week with a couple of relatively easy wins.

The Wildcats got another great effort from Tanner Riley as they took care of the Juanita Rebels, 72-59, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Mount Si swept a home-and-home series against the Rebels that started with a Jan. 31 win at Juanita.

Riley scored 33 as Mount Si built their lead to as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter, before the Rebels rallied against the Wildcats’ deep reserves.

“The game went well,” said Mount Si coach Jeff D’Ambrosio. “We played hard, played good defense, position-wise.”

Juanita got physical on the court, but D’Ambrosio felt the team responded with more skill than in their prior meeting with that team.

The Wildcat reserve unit of Tucker Edwards-King, Zach Brevick, Spencer MacEwan and Dillon Shane played the last half of the fourth quarter. The Rebels tried their best to make things interesting late in the game, but at the end of the day, the ‘Cat reserves shut the door and had racked up quality time on the court — an important factor for the postseason.

Brevick was pleased to get the chance to play. Practice is fine, “but playing in the games is definitely what you want,” he said.

Dallas Smith added 12 points to pace the Wildcats. He was floor leader for the reserve unit down the stretch.

“It’s a little different for me, because in a tight game, usually Tanner’s in there,” Smith said. “When the reserves come on, coach usually puts me or Spencer at point and we just kind of dribble out the clock.”

Overall, Smith thought he did fine.

The Wildcats gradually built up their lead as the game moved along. The Rebels tried to stay close, and were down just nine, 33-24, at the half. But a 9-0 run by Riley in the third quarter left Juanita far behind. The ‘Cats continued to pull away before Juanita attempted a comeback, but by then it was too late. Shane, Brevick and MacEwan scored buckets, helping to maintain the lead to the final buzzer.

Smith believes that giving these reserves playing time will be helpful.

“It’s just good in these blowout games to get them time on the court. In the tough games, Metro teams like to press, which makes us tired, so we’re going to need lots of fresh bodies in there when that happens,” he said.

If Mount Si has any chance to make state, they’ll likely have to beat at least one of the tough Metro teams also aiming to get there: Franklin, Rainier Beach, Bainbridge, Seattle Prep or O’Dea. Those who have followed the local scene this year know all of these teams are very tough, with three of them being ranked.

The Wildcats traveled to Interlake last Friday, Feb. 6, and rolled to an easy 73-49 win. No stats were available as of the Valley Record’s deadlines. Mount Si with the win has now won five straight going into this week.

Mount Si will host Mercer Island for senior night, 8 p.m. Thursday Feb. 12. Several seniors, among them Brevick and Tyson Riley, will be honored prior to the contest.