Even though the state basketball tournament didn’t go the way the Bothell High boys’ team had planned – going two-and-out after Friday’s 83-74 loss to Mount Rainier – the memories of finally making it to the “Big Dance” will last forever.
It had been 15 long, arduous years since the Cougars’ program had last made it to state – back at the old Kingdome – and head coach Ron Bollinger, along with his players, relished the opportunity to finally play at the Tacoma Dome.
“It was a great experience for them, it’s one they can talk about the rest of their life – ‘I played in the state tournament,'” Bollinger said. “We were able to get everybody in over the two days. We didn’t finish like we wanted, and right now it hurts, but when they look back on it, they’ll be talking about it for years to come.”
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
After getting blown out 79-45 by No. 1-ranked A.C. Davis from Yakima during Thursday’s state opener, the Cougars brought their game for Friday’s do-or-die contest against the Rams.
With the Rams playing a tough zone defense that made it a challenge for guards Zach LaVine and Perrion Callandret to drive to the basket, the Cougars had no choice but to rely on their perimeter shooting – and one young sharpshooter stepped up in a big way.
Sophomore Kellen Webster (right) couldn’t miss from downtown in the second quarter, firing up four 3-pointers that all found the net as Bothell was able to hang tough with Mount Rainier’s fast-paced offense to the tune of a 35-35 tie at halftime.
The third-quarter was all Rams, however, as they shot 9 of 17 in the period, including 12 points alone from junior guard Caden Rowland.
Despite finishing with 26 points in the fourth quarter, which included a run of seven straight field goals without a miss, the Cougars could not keep pace with the Rams, who converted key free throws down the stretch to keep it at least a two-possession game.
“The effort was good,” said Bollinger, adding that it was Rowland’s 20 second-half points that put the nail in the Cougars’ coffin. “It’s good to say you made it down here, but you kinda want to win one or two to make it fulfilling.”
After the game, Rowland spoke about his team’s plan to limit the effectiveness of the Cougars’ two D-I caliber guards.
“We knew (LaVine) is a great player and he’s fast, we had to stop his penetration just like Perrion,” Rowland explained. “We executed and we got the job done.”
For the game, Webster led the Cougars with a career-high 28 points, converting eight of his 11 3-point attempts. LaVine added 17 and Callandret 12.
“He was one away from the tournament record (of nine),” remarked Bollinger on Webster’s amazing display of perimeter shooting. “He played huge for us today and kept us in the game.”
TACOMA THRILL
With the sting of a hard-fought loss apparent as they left the visiting locker room at the Tacoma Dome, the Cougars stopped to take in a few minutes of the other consolation semifinal, Garfield against Jackson, before departing Tacoma – at least until next year.
“It’s incredible,” said LaVine on the experience of playing in the cavernous Dome. “You just gotta get used to the lights, get used to the baskets, and the atmosphere.”
Callandret agreed. “It takes a couple games. Hopefully we can come back next year and we’ll be used to it, an experienced team.”
Until that time, the Cougars plan to spend more time together off the court, and get to “know each other a little bit better,” according to LaVine.
With as many first-year players as the team had this year, that may be the magic elixir for the deep and talented Cougars to finally bring home that state title in 2013.
“We want to start how we finish, pretty much,” Callandret said. “Hopefully Kellen can hit big shots like he did today, that helped us a lot. We got to come back and try and do it all over again.”
SUPER SENIORS
Head coach Bollinger had five departing seniors on his team this year, and took a moment to remember each of them and their contributions to the program:
Riley Wick: “He had a great end of the season, he was one of our captains and a leader on the team. He hit some big shots for us down the stretch.”
Caleb Nealy: “The big kid. Had some really good minutes, especially against Skyline, he was a big factor in the two games where we beat Roosevelt.”
Matt Henry: “Always a positive guy in practice, when we got him in the game, it was fun.”
Prince Lacey: “Had his season cut short with a broken foot, but (we) missed that three-ball that he could bring to us.”
Derek Pinder: “Our spark plug on defense. It’s just too bad he had the flu and missed a couple practices before the first game down here. He always gives us energy.”
Bothell junior forward Spencer Curtright evades a pair of Rams’ defenders, laying ball in for two points during Saturday’s 83-74 loss to Mount Rainier, ending Bothell’s season. Tim Watanabe, Bothell Reporter