BASKETBALL
Cougars come from behind to nip Viks
After trailing by eight at the half, 32-24, Bothell High stormed back in the final two quarters to earn its first league win, 59-55, in front of the Inglemoor High home crowd Dec. 12.
Bothell closed the lead to just two after the third and used a fast-paced offense to pour in 20 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Devin Willis, a 6-foot-4 Bothell guard, led all scorers with 21, followed by junior Oliver Hurtin with 11.
Senior forward Adam McElwee led the Vikings with 18, and 6-6 senior Todd Campbell added 12.
The Cougar win and Viking loss gave both teams a 1-1 conference record to begin the season, while the Vikings are 2-1 overall due to their 53-46 victory over Juanita to start the season.
Lady Viks top Cougars
Playing at home Dec. 12, Inglemoor beat Bothell in a low-scoring affair, 37-29, to remain unbeaten for the season — and prevent the Cougars from notching their first win.
Both teams struggled offensively, but it was the opening frame that made the difference as the Vikings scored 14 while limiting the Cougars to just four points.
Bothell wing/center Nickie Anderson and Inglemoor point guard Alex Nelson led all scorers with nine points.
With the win, Inglemoor improved to a perfect league record of 2-0 (5-0 overall) to start the season, as Bothell dropped to 0-2 (0-4 overall).
Cedar Park boys, girls lose a pair
Cedar Park Christian geared up for its first game against Bellevue Christian Dec. 9. Senior Brandy Duffy contributed 11 points, but the Eagles lost, 57-37.
Senior Jeff Doherty added 18 points in an 89-56 loss to Cascade Christian Dec. 12. Junior Tommy McCullough followed closely with 11 points.
Coach Adam Lynch thinks the team is progressing well: “We’re improving every game and doing something better than the previous. Our guys hung in there this week and we just have to continue to work hard.”
• In the lady Eagles’ game against King’s Dec. 10, freshman Mattie Shelford led the team 15 points, but the team lost, 54-29.
On Dec. 12, the girls took on Lakewood as coach Sara Land returned to work after the birth of her daughter. Junior Alyssa Lundberg expresses joy for having her coach back: “It’s good to have her back, ‘cause she makes us want to play better.” The girls lost, 54-42.
WRESTLING
Viks take down LW
Inglemoor defeated Lake Washington in their opening dual meet of the season Dec. 11, 51-18, on the strength of seven pins.
Earning pins for the Viks were Brian Trabun, Anthony Bratcher, Casey Stoltz, Austin Terry, Jake Lowe, Mike Lambert and Yuji Pearce.
Team captain Daniel Nelson went up a weight class to challenge defending Kingco champion Eric Cook, with Nelson prevailing, 17-15.
Bratcher, a sophomore who earlier this month won his first three high-school matches and the 130-pound championship at the Mariner Holiday Tournament, continued his unbeaten streak with an overtime pin over LW’s Joel Navas.
Inglemoor places fourth at weekend tourney
The Vikings put on a strong showing at the George Wilfong Invitational tournament in Puyallup Dec. 13, placing six individuals including Nelson, who won the 152 weight class for his second consecutive win of the young season.
Four other Vikings lost only one match in the event to place third in their respective divisions: Shane Merrill (103), Bratcher (130), Joey Speed (145), Lowe (171) and Lambert (189).
The Vikings finished fourth out of the 14 teams participating in the tournament.
