BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

FEDERAL WAY - Superb sharing and shooting in the second half turned a reasonably close game into a rout for the Mount Rainier girls basketball team in a 54-17 South Puget Sound League 4A Northwest win at Decatur on Tues., Jan. 26.

Mt. Rainier improved to 2-5 league and 5-14 overall while Decatur fell to 0-8 and 1-16 respectively.
"Our team is really improving its defense and taking better care of the ball," said first-year Ram head coach Salvo Coppa. "They share and play team basketball. There are no big egos. Even Simone (Johnson) who can score well is unselfish. Mentally, they're learning more about the game."

The Rams lose only Johnson to graduation on a team that has five freshman on varsity.

Holding a 13-5 lead going into halftime, MRHS began its strafing run of scoring hits ignited by junior Kenzie Gandy's two free throws ahead of Simone Johnson's pair of charity tosses. Gandy then made a steal and cruised for a layup. After Johnson's bank shot basket, the breakaway was in full motion.

Only a Caryn Roberts basket after an 8-0 MR run and a Patricia Orciuoli basket after a 7-0 Mt. Rainier run interrupted the Ram charge as MRHS led 28-9 after three quarters. Mt. Rainier established its greatest lead at 39 points twice in the final quarter.

Both squads participated in an error strewn first quarter with the Golden Gators overcoming a 3-0 deficit to lead 5-3 after one quarter. Decatur fought hard, but did not have strong enough fundamental and ball handling skills to fully capitalize on the early Ram struggles.

As Mt. Rainier gradually stepped up the pace it left its mistakes behind to struggle into a 13-5 halftime edge before the third quarter scoring blitz sent the Rams into overdrive.

Johnson's eight final quarter points sent her into a game high 14 points for Mt. Rainier and Ali Reiff came off the bench for 10 points. The rest of the ram scoring showed Madison Lommen (7), Erin Davidson (6), Ami Yoshino (5), Ainsley Keane (5), Gandy(5) and Esmeralda Kupusija (2).

Eight players scored for the Golden Gators, led by Emily Flavin's four points.