Without a big man of their own, the Cougars had trouble containing Shorecrest junior Phillip Pepple on Friday evening.
The Shorecrest High boys basketball team took full advantage, playing off of Pepple’s presence in the middle and pulling away for an 80-61 win over Bothell in the QFC Holiday Classic championship game at Bothell High School.
Pepple was named the tournament MVP, and finished with 18 points in the win for Shorecrest as the Scotts (8-1) handed Bothell its first loss of the season.
The Cougars, though, were shorthanded. Bothell lost Jake Medjo in the tournament opener after the senior post took a nasty fall and needed eight stitches on his chin. With Medjo on the bench, Bothell struggled to score inside the 3-point line.
Sharp shooting from seniors Cameron Tyson and Josh Kollman kept the Cougars within striking distance, but Bothell only scored two points from the painted area in the entire first half.
“It’s very difficult [to play without Medjo],” said Tyson, who finished with a team-high 23 points. “I mean, he’s one of our leading scorers and putting up 20 a game for us, so that’s 20 points right there that we miss. We’re just glad to have him back on Tuesday against Issaquah.”
With Kollman nursing a hurt back, Medjo out for the final two games of the tournament and senior Daniel Johnson sidelined until January, Tyson stepped up and shouldered the offensive load. He scored 27 in the opener and 28 in the semifinal against Juanita.
Kollman played an expanded role in the Shorecrest game, scoring 15 points in the first half and finishing with 18points off the bench. Da’Vicious Wilson had nine points and Isaiah Clark scored seven.
Malcolm Rosier-Butler led all scorers with 24 points in the win for Shorecrest.
Next, Bothell is scheduled to resume KingCo play with a home game against Issaquah at 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 3.
Bothell’s Cameron Tyson fights his way to the rim for a dunk against Shorecrest on Dec. 30. Tyson finished with 23 points, but only scored two in the fourth quarter. JOHN WILLIAM HOWARD/Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
