Second-half surge propels Mount Si to a victory against Newport

Mount Si outscores Newport 36-22 in the second half of play.

By Shaun Scott • December 15, 2018 12:25 am
Newport Knights center Braeden Splaine, left, looks to make a pass while being covered by Mount Si senior Brett Williams, right, in a 4A KingCo matchup on Dec. 14 in Factoria. Mount Si defeated Newport, 66-44, in the contest. Photo courtesy of Patrick Krohn/Patrick Krohn Photography
Newport Knights center Braeden Splaine, left, looks to make a pass while being covered by Mount Si senior Brett Williams, right, in a 4A KingCo matchup on Dec. 14 in Factoria. Mount Si defeated Newport, 66-44, in the contest. Photo courtesy of Patrick Krohn/Patrick Krohn Photography

Not even a setback on their home floor could deter Newport Knights boys basketball head coach Rob Marlow from remaining optimistic about his team’s chances for success during the 2018-19 season.

The Mount Si Wildcats registered a 66-44 victory against Newport on Dec. 14 at Newport High School in Factoria. The Knights dropped to 1-4 with the loss while Mount Si improved to 4-1 overall. Mount Si outscored Newport 36-22 in the final two quarters of play, sealing the win. The Wildcats led the Knights by just eight points (30-22) at halftime.

“There were some spurts where they (Mount Si) pushed the lead to double digits and we battled back and cut it to single digits. I was impressed with our ability to compete on every single possession,” Marlow said of his squad. “As a group we are still learning how to develop that toughness and togetherness that I really strive for my teams to have. It has been coming along each game. The effort was really good and that is all I can ask for.”

Mount Si head coach Jason Griffith was thrilled with the final result on the road.

“Any time you win here (Newport High School gymnasium) it is a good win. Rob Marlow (Newport head coach) does a great job with his team. They play hard and they don’t take a possession off,” Griffith said of the Knights. “To come in here and walk out of here with a win is good for me.”

Mount Si junior Tyler Patterson scored a game-high 21 points in the triumph for his team. Wildcats’ junior guard Jabe Mullins added 18 points as well. The Wildcats shots from beyond the arc began to fall in the final two quarters after a subpar first half.

“We were only 4-for-16 at halftime from three (point attempts) but I think in the second half we settled down. The guys got their legs underneath them and started hitting some shots. We certainly have the capability to shoot the ball,” Griffith said. “We started going a little more inside and out in the second half instead of just reversing the ball. I felt like the guys caught it more in a better rhythm.”

Marlow believes his team has the makeup to be a playoff squad this February.

“We’re going to just take it game by game. We want to have a chance to compete in the KingCo tournament and get to the district tournament,” Marlow said. “We would be excited with that opportunity. The guys are hungry to compete in each and every game. We’re going to see where it takes us.”