Rugged defense and good execution down the stretch teamed up to give the Mount Rainier Rams a 71-65 winner-to-state, loser-out West Central/Southwest Class 3A Bi-District win against Southwest No. 1 seeded Hudson's Bay in Tuesday, March 2, boys basketball action at Auburn High School.

Mount Rainier (16-7) earned its third state berth in four years after missing out by one game last season. The Rams are assured of nothing less than the No.8 seed and would gain the No.4 seed with two more wins in a row at bi-district.

"Our biggest thing was execution off fast passes," said Ram head coach Brian Johnson. "They packed in the zone, but we didn't want to settle for three-point tries that would play right into their hands, so we kept passing until we found some openings. We did a good job of stealing balls down the stretch. It feels good to be back (at state)."

With 54.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Hudson's Bay rallied within 66-64. After several changes of possession -- the last following a missed Eagle jumper -- Mount Rainier worked the ball quickly around the perimeter until 6-foot-3 Delvonte Aliifua broke clear to receive a pass for a layin as 20.4 seconds showed on the clock, making it a two possession game for the Eagles to attain the win.

Hudson's Bay called time out three seconds later after passing the ball in to set up an inbounds play. The Rams then stole the inbounds pass and Bryce McPhee was fouled with 4.6 seconds remaining. McPhee's conversion of two free throws secured the win for Mount Rainier.

"All season long, we've depended on our defense, pretty much," said Bryce McPhee. "We pulled together defensively and rebounding was big for us."

First quarter play showed the Eagles shooting to an 8-2 lead on the strength of Gabe Foster's outside shooting that included two three-pointers. Malik Rodgers drained a three-point goal followed by a McPhee bucket. Mount Rainier's defense produced repeated steals while the Bay struggled from outside. Rodgers' foul line jumper completed a 14-0 Ram run for a 16-8 command that was sliced by Danny Christensen's 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

Seizing the initiative, Mount Rainier took control and eventually established a 28-18 lead on McPhee's rebound basket. Hudson's Bay retaliated with a 9-4 run to halftime.

The running Rams retained the lead through back-and-forth scoring waves, but could never pull away by more than eight points. The Bay scrappily trimmed down its deficit until it trailed by only 57-56 in the fourth quarter.

McPhee and Aliifua answered with two free throws and a down the lane basket respectively for Mount Rainier to increase the lead to 61-56.

With 2:23 left, Cameron Harris triggered a three-point Ram basket for a 66-60 MR advantage. Derrick Brooks with a Hudson's Bay three-ball. The Eagles missed two three-pointers, but converted a free throw. McPhee lead all scorers with points while hauling in 12 rebounds. Aliifua canned 16 points and recovered eight boards while Rodgers finished with 12 points.