Mount Si’s new girls basketball coach has been looking for her first win as a high school coach, and it looked like last Friday, December 11, would be the night, considering the Wildcats were playing the lowly Sammamish Totems. And behind balanced scoring, coach Megan Botulinski picked up that historic first victory.

Everyone who suited up for Mount Si played and scored points in the 83-15 Wildcats blowout of the Totems at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. Freshman Molly Sellers led Mount Si, and all scorers, with 13 points, while Kassidy Maddux and Haley Chase each added 10 to pace the victors, who were up 39-10 at half and did not look back.

Botulinski was happy to get her first win. “It’s great. We’ve been working for this for awhile now, so I’m glad it finally came,” the coach said. Chase said it was all about teamwork. “I think we all just came out and played hard and we all worked together to try and get a victory tonight,” she said.

Junior varsity callups Shelby Peerboom and Jordan Riley both saw quality minutes in the second half. Riley had a solid performance in her outing, and she finished with four points. Riley was ready. “I was really excited to play, and I just was looking forward to the opportunity. I’ve been working hard for it and I’m glad I got to (do) it and it was a great experience,” Riley said. Botulinski praised the sophomore. “She went in there, no reservations, just went in and did what she needed to do,” the coach said.

Peerboom too had a great effort. She too finished with four points, but was also on the receiving end of a flagrant foul by Sammamish’s Kelly Darling with seconds left in the game which resulted in Darling’s ejection from the contest. That, though, did not spoil the experience for Peerboom, a sophomore. “It was fun, being my first time out there with these girls. I had fun and it was just a great time,” she said.

The balanced scoring efforts should serve to aid the Wildcats, according to Chase. “I think that it’ll get our confidence up and help us as the next games come to get more victories,” the junior said.

In other action last week, the Wildcats fell to Liberty last Wednesday, December 9, 60-45.

Mount Si is off until Saturday, December 19, when they host Port Angeles. Fans should be advised that due to construction at the high school, both this game and the December 23 game against Lakeside have been moved from the Mount Si campus. The game against Port Angeles will be held at Chief Kanim Middle School in Fall City, with a start time of 4:00 p.m. The site for the December 23 game has not been announced, but it is expected to remain a home game for the Wildcats at a local school site.