By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Home team team NPSL Cascade Mt. Rainier fought into overtime before being edged out 74-71 by Olympic Auburn Riverside in a division crossover boys basketball game on Thurs., Feb. 6.

As a result of the loss, the Rams (13-8) were forced into a 7 p.m. game at Olympia on Wed., Feb. 12 in opening round West Central/Southwest Washington Bi-District action.

The Ravens (15-8) host Sumner on the same night and time.

Trailing, 71-70, Auburn Riverside kept trying to score inside before being rebuffed three times.

Kevn Griffin assisted to Cain for a Raven basket with 37.8 seconds in OT.

MR crossed half court and called time out as 21.4 seconds showed.

Unfortunately, the Rams threw the ball away.

ARHS postman nailed two free throws just before time ran out.

“Give credit to them,” said Mt. Rainier head coach Brandon Horstman. “No 4 (Cain) made some tough shots. Eleven (Johnson) was really good. The other guards had some good shots and No. 3 (Cole Lenihan) posted more down the stretch. We got out of our game for long stretches. We allowed them to set the pace and played too fast at times.”

In the first quarter, the teams battled to a near standstill on fast ball movement and breakaways as Isaiah Fulmore snared a lead pass for a lay up that sent the Rams into the second with a 15-14 lead.

The second quarter was even more intense with a potpourri of three-pointers and steals.

Sarbatt Singh drained a pair of threes and Navi Sing added a basket from beyond the arc. 

Julian Rahn and Ricky Bell III also joined the efforts to offset the arsenal being unloaded by the the Raven guards and inside players.

Sarbatt’s corner three-point goal gave MRHS a 33-31 lead before a Coke Lenihan basket knotted the score at 33 heading into the intermission.

Auburn Riverside used seven consecutive points by Lenihan to open the second half to lead by a 40-33 margin before a Bell three-point goal was partially offset by a Julius Cain basket.

The game speed was being controlled by the Ravens.

Navi Singh was later fouled on a shot beyond the three-point line and sank three free throws to close the gap to 42-39.

The Raven lead extended to seven points at one stage of the third quarter before the Rams pared the difference to four twice including 48-44 on a Rahn follow basket with 2:14 showing. Bell then split the defense and was fouled in advance of his sinking of two free throws. Bell stole the ball on the press and hit a hoop to force a 48-48 score.

Continuing the press that rattled ARHS into turnovers, MRHS kept the pressure on with a pair of Bell free throws followed by a Beal steal and score.

With a minute left in the quarter, the Rams led 52-48.

Dae’Sean Johnson poured home a three-pointer and two free throws to send Auburn Riverside into the fourth with a 53-52 margin.

Each squad refused to back down in torrid and closely contested play.

Three ties ensued before Cain drained two free throws at 33 seconds.

Eighteen seconds later Robert Wright’s tip in tied the score at 68-all.

Bell stole the Raven back court pass but Auburn Riverside regained possession when a scramble sent the ball out of bounds.

Mt. Rainier eventually regained possession after a defensive stop, but had less than two seconds left.

Bell’s heave at the basket was the best the Rams could muster.

Lenihan posted for a basket to get the Ravens ahead 70-68 to begin the four minute overtime.

Sarbatt Singh swished a three-ball for the final Ram lead of 71-70 with just less than two minutes remaining in advance of the final dispositions.

Four players scored in double figures for Auburn Riverside led by the 23 of Cain. Griffon had 18, Lenihan added 11 and Isiah Gulchuk was at 10. Johndon (7), Javon Forward (2) and Bret Harvey (2) rounded out the Raven scoring.

Bell racked up 24 points for the Rams while Sarbatt Singh collected 13. Navi Singh scored 11 ahead of Robert Wight (7), Kole Lerwick (5), Trenton Brown (5), Rahn (4), and Fulmore (2).