Mount Rainier's foe ran out on an 8-2 run to start the game but the Rams came charging back, two, three times, from big deficits and won an important game in the history of the school, 59-57, over West Valley of Yakima to joyfully take home the fourth place trophy in the WIAA 3A state tournament at Hec Ed Pavillion in Seattle Saturday, March 8.

It is the Rams' best finish since 1971 when they took third place. It is their coach's best finish in his five years of leading this team, along with assistants Dick Fain, Vaughn Johnson and Mike Buchanan.

This Rams' team overcame a lot, including a party binge from three of its best players during the season. It made them sit out four games right at the end of the regular season that cost the Rams a likely first-place finish in the Seamount League.

Those kinds of things can destroy teams.

"I'm proud of these guys," said Brian Johnson, the Rams' fifth-year head coach doing great things with the program since coming five years ago.

The team was led this season by seniors Alfie Miller, Jon Morine, Theo Bowie and Rashaun Butler.

"I am going to miss them. They have been with me four years," said Johnson. "Out of the five years I have been here at Mount Rainier coaching now, this group of seniors has been the most coachable."

Johnson will miss them. Tears don't lie. The redness on his face near his eyes told that he, his coaches, and, the seniors, and, rest of underclassmen, looked to have done a little locker room crying after this final game against West Valley.

This was a great tournament, and a great four years, as this group of seniors made state three of four times together.

"It's been a lot of fun," said Miller, the team's leading scorer who could send in threes from the NBA three-point line even, guys much taller in his face. It didn't matter, Miller made them. He led the team in scoring and was a leader looked to on the team.

Jon Morine was the team's leading rebounder and also a leading scorer. His play and intensity led this team, too.

"We are one big family," said Morine. "It's a great group of guys."

With a 10-3 disadvantage three minutes into the game, Mount Rainier suddenly tore right through that big deficit. First, it was an Alfie Miller three, then a Vonchae Richardson three, and, later, a jumper and later still, but still in the first quarter, a nice drive by him. After all that, it was 15-14, West Valley, with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.

"We came back," said Johnson. "For some reason, we play better from behind. I don't know why that is but it is."

West Valley again stretched it's one point lead there to a lot more as the foe went on a 5-0 run, 20-14, before Theo Bowie hit a jumper and it was 20-16.

West Valley was up, 35-28, at halftime, but the second half was promising.

"We switched the match-ups (in the second half) so I was able to control the boards better in the second half," said Morine.

Also, in the first half what hurt the Rams' inside game, according to Morine, was "Their big guy shot threes so I was forced to go out there."

Rams shot 10-for-26 from the field, and, West Valley shot 14-for-29 (48 percent). West Valley made 5-of-14 threes and the Rams shot 4-for-13. The free throws were 4 of 8 for the Rams and 2 of 2 for West Valley.

In the third quarter is when the Rams turned up their intensity level, shooting a lot better than their 38 percent in the first half.

But it was more than intensity that turned this game's seven-point Rams deficit around right after halftime.

"We were angry with each other, bickering at halftime," said Morine. "But the coaches talked to us and we responded and played together."

The Rams worked their way to only a 53-51 deficit with 3:45 to go in the fourth. Miller missed but the ball took a nice, big kick out to Theo Bowie. Then it was 53-53.

Morine was fouled in close for two shots.

Then it was 1-for-2 by Morine to make it 54-53 Rams -- their first lead of the game.

This point, where Richardson stole the ball, was a great time for his coach understanding that his player could take a chance and get a steal, in the clutch.

"Coach said for us to play defense when they came down the court, but I saw the ball and I dove for it and got it and passed it up to Bowie," said Richardson.

"Vonchae made a great play, I don't have a problem with him doing that," said Johnson.

After a foul by West Valley and free throws missed, West Valley came charging down and a short jumper was off rim and backboard. Miller got the rebound with two important free throws to give the Rams their best finish since 1971.

Miller made the first to make it 57-55 Rams. He made the second to make it 58-55, Rams, with 20 seconds left.

The Rams called time to set up the defense.

West Valley then scored on a pair of free throws to make it 58-57.

Miller then shot 1-for-2 and it was 60-57 Rams with 2.7 seconds left.

Time-out West Valley.

A long inbounds pass the length of court was batted out by Miller with 1.3 seconds left. West Valley had one more chance and got a shot off.

It wasa an air ball and the Rams took fourth place in the state.

"It's a great way to end the season," said Miller, the Seamount League MVP this past year. "Not many teams end their season with a win. It feels good."