Fortune is smiling on the Mount Si High School girls basketball team, as they enjoyed a nice run in recent days, including a pair of wins.

The Wildcats locked up the fourth place spot in the Kingco 3A league with a defensive-oriented 48-37 win last week over the Juanita Rebels. It was Mount Si’s second win in as many games against Juanita.

Caitie Richards led the way with 23 points for the Wildcats, but it was the defense who stood tallest. As a team, Mount Si out-rebounded the Rebels 40-29, stole the ball 26 times, forced three 30-second shot clock violations, as well as two consecutive five-second calls that both resulted in Juanita turnovers.

“We’re pretty darn excited,” said Wildcat coach Dirk Hansen. “The weight room has had a huge impact on us.

“We’re spending half of our practices in the weight room, two, three times a week, and it’s made a huge difference in our play,” the coach said. Along with that, “we’ve got some kids stepping up now that are playing just a little bit more confidently, and that really helps.”

The key to Richards’ success was very simple.

“We’ve switched it up, and I’ve been playing high post a lot more,” she said. “It gets me open more.”

Junior Emily Ferree celebrated her 17th birthday in style, collecting a couple of offensive boards.

“We just felt, as a team, we had to go out there and get it done for the third straight time in a row,” she said.

Hailey Eddings added seven points to pace the Wildcat efforts, while Eddings, Jordyn Wilson and Sarah McDonald all led the rebounding department with six boards apiece. Wilson understands the importance of strong defense.

“Defense wins games and offense just comes around when you play good defense, so that’s what we were looking for — to play good defense,” she said.

Richards added six steals and Eddings pitched in five to lead that category for the Wildcats. Amanda Wilson scored 11 points and pitched in five rebounds to lead the Rebels.

The Wildcats and Rebels played a very tight defensive first half, with little scoring.

Late in the half, though, that changed, as Mount Si began to pull away offensively while continuing to put up a brick wall, defensively. The Wildcat defense, until late in the third quarter, had held the Rebels to just 10 points. With three minutes left in the frame, Kimberly Baba scored her lone basket for Juanita, and that set off the Rebels on a 15-7 run to close out the quarter.

Mount Si’s defense tightened up from that point, and closed the deal in spite of another late Juanita rally to end the game.

The Wildcats traveled to Interlake last Friday, Feb. 6, and the winning streak continued, as they rolled over the Saints, 62-46. A 22-8 second quarter enabled Mount Si to take control, despite a double-double of 23 points and 17 boards from Interlake post Sarah Anderegg.

Richards scored 24 to lead the Wildcats, while Eddings and Aubrey Larion each had six rebounds. Kassidy Maddux had a nice game, with eight points, to pace Mount Si.

This week is a big week for the Wildcats, as senior night is Thursday, Feb. 12, at home against Mercer Island.

“We’re going to work hard. We’re going to be faster and stronger than we’ve been in the past, and hopefully stick it to them,” Richards said.

She and Wilson will be honored prior to the game.

“Both Caitie and Jordyn have committed four years of their high school to this basketball program, and that doesn’t go unappreciated. I wish them both the best,” Hansen said. Game time on Thursday is 6:30 p.m.