Mount Si’s girls basketball team started out on a tear this season, winning their first three games, but had more recently run into a little adversity, losing their last two. However, last Tuesday night, December 21, the Wildcats, using balanced offense and solid defense, found their way back into the win column by defeating the Metro League’s Eastside Catholic Crusaders.
Kassidy Maddux scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats to a comfortable 61-43 win over EC, who was led by the game-high 21 of Michaela O’Rourke. “I think we did a lot better in our press (defense) breakers and we did a lot better in our two-point shooting rather than our outside shooting,” said a pleased Maddux. Wildcat coach Megan Botulinski said the team is still working to get better. “Well, you know, we’re just trying to get back into a rhythm and teams have been scouting us lately so they know that we aren’t the best when it comes to zone (defense) and that’s what we saw with Eastside Catholic,” Botulinski said. “We’re still trying to improve on how we play against the zone.”
Mount Si broke out to a 7-0 lead off the opening tip, and withstood several Crusader rallies throughout the contest. The Wildcats had the lead at halftime 27-20, and they were able to maintain that lead the rest of the way thanks to solid rebounding and defense. Leading that effort was junior Shelby Peerboom, who had nine boards. “I knew I had to come out and go strong. We’re not the tallest team, so I’ve just got to go for everything,” Peerboom said.
Hailey Eddings added 12 points along with seven rebounds and five steals and Jori Braun paced things with 10 points and five assists to support the Mount Si efforts.
Botulinski noted that their work will continue, as these games over the holiday break help them prepare for what lies ahead. “That’s what these nonleagues (games) are for; it’s what Christmas break is for, is so that we can really focus on these improvements,” the coach said.
And that will continue this week with games against Wesco opponents, including highly ranked Lynnwood, in the Kingco-Wesco challenge series pitting teams from Kingco 3A and 4A against their counterparts from the Snohomish County-centric Wesco Conference. These games are at Juanita High School in Kirkland. Maddux says fans should expect more from her team. “I think fans can expect more wins and more intensity,” the senior said.
