BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

After seven consecutive losses, the continually learning Mount Rainier girls basketball team persevered to claim a 48-42 win at South Puget Sound League 3A Auburn on Mon., Jan. 19. It was the team's first win since Dec. 19, 2014.

The Rams improved to an overall 4-11 record.

"I was happy they reacted to the pressure," said MR head coach Salvo Coppa. "They played with character and personality, scoring with free throws."

Tied at 35-35 with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, the young Rams finally ascended the mountain top of victory. Simone Johnson, CeCe Tafia, Kenzie Gandy and Ami Yoshino combined for seven consecutive points to establish a seven point lead -- the largest of the game -- with just more than three minutes showing in regulation play.

The next sequence provided positives for each team, but essentially turned the proceedings in favor of Mount Rainier. Nya Yat stole the ball for the home Trojans and proceeded to convert a standard 3-point play to bring Auburn within 42-38 with three minutes left.

At the end of the play, a Trojan player was whistled for a technical foul. Johnson converted two free throws and the Rams then inbounded. Turning the ball over, MR was rescued by a Gandy steal and dish off to Erin Davidson who sank the second of two free throws, extending the Ram lead back seven at 45-38. Maysen Tinney answered for Auburn with an inside goal, but Johnson put down 3 of 4 free throws ahead of a Tinney basket in concluding action.

Johnson ran the court for a game high 17 points and was clutch from the foul line, making 11 of 13 including pressure free throws in the fourth quarter.

As a possible victory loomed closer and closer, Johnson had some clear thoughts.

"With all their fouls, our intensity and aggressiveness forced the action," she said.

Beginning play produced slow-paced half court oriented offenses that combined with turnovers before the Trojans escaped with an 8-7 lead going into the second quarter.

These first quarter patterns repeated themselves in the second quarter as the Rams struggled to a 17-16 halftime edge.

Both teams emerged from the halftime intermission with higher energy outputs on both ends of the court. Auburn pulled a short breakaway for a 5-0 scoring run to grab its biggest lead of the game at 27-21 as 4:44 showed on the scoreboard clock.

Gandy's rebound basket capped a six-point Ram rally for a 29-29 standoff with 2:52 before the fourth quarter. Going into the fourth quarter, Mount Rainier and Auburn were locked in a 33-33 tie. Gandy and Yat matched field goals to forge the 35-all score that led into the precious final minutes of the game.
"To win felt really great," said Gandy, who had nine points, four rebounds and three steals. "It was a hard game, but we got on the same page and put our mind to it."

Inside player Yoshino scored eight points while grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking two shots. Tafia streaked for eight points in her court time.

Nya Nat scored 16 points for Auburn.