There was excitement in the air as two local teams rang out the year 2009 in stirring fashion.

Controlling the pace at key moments, Class 3A Mount Rainier (6-1) outlasted Class 1A defending state girls basketball champion Seattle Christian 53-50 in a clash of contenders in SeaTac Wednesday night.

“We came out with intensity and played hard,” observed Mount Rainier head coach Bob Bolam. “We were fortunate their three-point shooter (Kara) Kogle was out (with an ankle sprain). We had key shots from different people. Sydney Codd played a good all-around game. This game definitely helped our players learn to play against pressure in tight games.”

Mount Rainier senior wing player Sydney Codd calmly swished home two free throws to extend the Ram lead to 53-50 with 9.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Following a time out, Seattle Christian inbounded from the side near midcourt and attempted to set up a three-point goal opportunity, but Sydney Codd intercepted a pass and dribbled away the final 1.4 seconds.

“I was thinking, like, no pressure,” Codd happily recalled. “Oh, my. I better make it. This is the game winner.”

Codd closed with seven points, including a three-pointer.

Pressure began immediately from SCS to start the game. Using Kate Collier in the low post and Lexi Petersen outside, the Warriors ran to a 7-0 lead. Holding their poise, the Rams utilized precise passing to dissect the pressure defense and run the halfcourt offense to gain access to back door lay up attempts or open outside shots. Caroline Codd sandwiched two outside shots around a Marisa Blair three-pointer as MR drove to a 7-7 tie before the Warriors took an 11-7 first quarter lead.

Continuing its swarming defense that also collapsed on Collier in the low post and denied the opportunity for quick, transition Seattle Christian breakaways, Mount Rainier drew away from a 17-16 Warrior lead to hold a 22-17 halftime margin.

After Maylinn Mitchell’s amazing, running, spin around basket to open the second half for the Rams, Seattle Christian’s Maddie Harris ignited an eight point rally and a quickening of the pace with a three-point shot and SCS led 25-24. Close exchanges followed until Zerina Kapetanovic banked a three-point goal to send the Rams into the fourth quarter with a 39-38 advantage. 

Fourth quarter action featured even battling until Zapetanovic’s lay up followed by Blair’s streaking inside goal put Mount Rainier ahead for the final time at 47-43 with 3:59 remaining in regulation. Collier exchanged two charity tosses with a Blair field goal before Collier drained the first of two free throw chances to draw SCS within 49-46.

Kiana Gandy recovered the rebound for the Rams on Collier’s missed second free throw attempt and dropped in a running field goal inside the lane to give Mount Rainier a 51-46 lead as 1:42 showed on the scoreboard clock.

Following a Warrior time out, Petersen drained a three-pointer and later sank a free throw to bring SCS (5-2) within 51-50 ahead of Sydney Codd’s heroics.

Despite the loss, Seattle Christian head coach Bob Kickner saw some positive results.

“Mount Rainier was really scrappy and was spirited,” he stated. “Give them credit for the victory. This type of intensity we don’t get to see often in our league. It was a good opportunity for the girls to learn how to play basketball against pressure. We would have loved to win, but either way, we’re happy they gave us a good test. We can learn from this.”

Collier, who scored 17 points, was also up beat.

“They’re a strong team,” she attested. “We played well as a team and our passing was improved.”

A 12-for-24 free throw shooting performance crippled the SCS effort.

Petersen notched 17 points for the Rams to match Collier and Mount Rainier’s Blair for game-high honors. Blair also grabbed six steals and dished out four assists. Caroline Codd scored nine MR points while Gandy scored six points and recovered five rebounds.

Kapetanovic was valuable for four steals in addition to five points. Maylinn Mitchell notched five points.