The final ride for Mount Si girls basketball; team will cherish this season’s strong bonds

The atmosphere in the foyer outside the Bellevue College locker room was subdued as Mount Si High School's varsity girls basketball players trickled out to commiserate the end of the 2011-12 season. Minutes earlier, the Wildcats fell to Bellevue, 58-43, on this Monday, Feb. 6, play-in to the league tournament. A late push failed to put them over the Wolverines, so now, as the girls prepared to ride home with parents, they felt the bittersweet sensation of a final game. Mount Si's three seniors—Shelby Peerboom, Jordan Riley and Alex Welsh—gave it all that they had in the final quarter, helping the team tie Bellevue for points. But Mount Si just ran out of time. "Another 10, even five minutes, might have done it," Head coach Megan Botulinski said. "They really came out strong at the end."

By Seth Truscott • February 13, 2012 12:37 pm
Mount Si senior Alex Welsh goes up for a shot in the second half of the Wildcats' final game of the season. Seniors Welsh
Mount Si senior Alex Welsh goes up for a shot in the second half of the Wildcats' final game of the season. Seniors Welsh

The atmosphere in the foyer outside the Bellevue College locker room was subdued as Mount Si High School’s varsity girls basketball players trickled out to commiserate the end of the 2011-12 season.

Minutes earlier, the Wildcats fell to Bellevue, 58-43, on this Monday, Feb. 6, play-in to the league tournament. A late push failed to put them over the Wolverines, so now, as the girls prepared to ride home with parents, they felt the bittersweet sensation of a final game.

Mount Si’s three seniors—Shelby Peerboom, Jordan Riley and Alex Welsh—gave it all that they had in the final quarter, helping the team tie Bellevue for points. But Mount Si just ran out of time.

“Another 10, even five minutes, might have done it,” Head coach Megan Botulinski said. “They really came out strong at the end.”

This was the seniors’ night to cap their career; Peerboom led with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Riley had 10 points and seven.

“I know we just lost, but all I’m thinking about are the girls,” Welsh said. “Katie Lindor came out hard, she never gave up. Coach fired us up, she never gives up on us.”

A choked up Botulinski said she’ll look back on this season and remember a tightly bonded, special group.

“We’ve made huge stride since the off-season,” she said. Her seniors, “are going to be extremely successful, wherever they go.”

“I’m so sad its ending right now,” she said. “I’m not ready to let go of them yet.”

Mount Si did build strong underclasswomen talent this season. Both Lindor sisters, Molly Sellers, Elizabeth Prewitt and other current juniors, sophomores and freshmen honed talent for the 2012-13 contest.

Despite the loss, all left proud of what they’ve accomplished this season.

“I’ve cherished every moment with my team, every game, every practice,” Riley said.

“Basketball has been my life, ever since I can remember,” she added. “I started at age 4, played ever since… practices all week. It’s weird to think that it’s over. It’s a shocker.”

Riley’s game days are far from over, though. She intends to play intramurals at college.

Mount Si basketball “has been my life for the last couple of months,” Peerboom said. We’ve spent so much time together.”

“Leaving them… the bond between us, that’s going to be the hardest part,” she added. Even the tough losses, we turned into something good.”

Mount Si ended their regular season, 7-7, 10-10 overall.

• You can follow Mount Si girls basketball news at http://www.mshsgirlsbasketball.com/