By GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer
They just kept persisting and persisting until the final battle was won.
Unrelenting tenacity happened like continuous bolts of lightning on Tues., Jan. 23, in Des Moines.
Six-foot, six-inch center Yadel Hedego's second put back try into the basket with 6.2 seconds left in overtime completed a compelling comeback for the Mt. Rainier boys basketball team in a crucial 69-68 NPSL 4A win against Tahoma that, in essence, secured a district playoff berth without any additional play-in games needed to reach the double elimination round.
The defense kept the visiting Bears off the scoreboard to end the tense struggle.
"I was disappointed that I missed the first try, but I knew it was do or die," said Hedego.
Blocking six shots while compiling 15 points with 12 rebounds, Hedego was a huge force for the Rams.
"It starts with how we executed," said MR head coach Brandon Horstman. "The defense has to be active and rotating correctly to stop the high percentage shots. I'm proud of this group and how they stayed together. The last time we played them, we made up a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 40 before they hit a 3-pointer and free throws to win (47-40)."
The Rams (7-6) sit solidly in the playoff chase in command of the fourth spot in the Cascade division with only two games left on the regular season against Evergreen and Kennedy Catholic. Tahoma fell to 4-9 with Kentlake at 5-8.
Crafting the compelling comeback for victory began at an unlikely moment for the Rams.
Mt. Rainier High School was trailing Tahoma by 15 points at 59-44 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before the running Rams picked up the pace on defense to force turnovers while also attacking the basket with abandon. The shots that refused to drop, previously, started to fall.
With ball distribution at its high, Hedego scored from inside. Guard Michael Nelson added a basket to narrow the gap to 59-48.
Once the Des Moines group stepped on the gas, it never let up, continually creating lay up and fast break opportunities.
With the defense still clawing away to get the ball for MR, Bell stole the ball and ran in for a lay up. Tahoma tried to run off some clock time, but the Rams created another steal, resulting in Amanuel Gebreziabher being fouled on a drive to the rim. The Ram athlete drained two free throws and the Bear lead was down to 59-54 with 1:12 on the clock.
Tahoma was able to extend its margin to 63-55, but Mt. Rainier stood fast to make one more charge.
Gebreziabher converted a pair of free throws ahead of a Michael Nelson steal and bucket as the Rams drew close again at 63-59 at the 20.9 mark.
Following a missed Bear throw on the front end of a one-and-one free throw turn, Mt. Rainier rebounded with Gebreziabher being fouled at 14 seconds left.
After converting the first charity toss, he missed the second, but the Rams grabbed the rebound and called time out sixth tenths of a second later.
Inbounding from the side in forecourt, Mt. Rainier was able to get an opportunity from Bell who downed a pressure 3-pointer from the right side to tie the score at 63-all at 8.4 seconds accompanied by a collective roar from the Ram supporters.
Tahoma inbounded from back court with 8.1 second left only to have the full court pressuring Rams limit the Bears to an off-balance shot as time expired.
"I was making sure that my hands were relaxed and ready and my feet positioned well," recalled Bell who closed out the game with 21 points three assists. "I saw the defender moving to me and shot. All our team got together and just kept trying."
