by Mark Butcher

Sports Writer

During a game, every team faces challenges. In most cases, the challenge comes from the opponent. Sometimes, the challenge is internal.

The Mountain View Boys JV team greatest challenge Thursday (Nov. 15), in their first home game of the season, against the visiting John Sedgwick Generals, was internal. Not from personal strife but line-up changes.

For the time in a longtime, this group of players, who have been playing together for years, were without their point guard, Trenton Bulmer. Following his 21-point game Tuesday (Nov. 13) at Central Kitsap, Bulmer had been promoted to play in the earlier varsity game and played two quarters

Madden Benson, the team’s unofficial rover, was asked by JV coach Marshaun Thompson to lead the team at point and run the offense. A task Benson was more than capable of performing but unfamiliar with.

Also stepping up, to fill the fifth starting spot, vacated by Bulmer’s promotion, was Jalin Littleraven-Oliver. He earned the opportunity with his season-opening 14-point performance against the Cubs.

With the changes the Squires JV struggled, committing ten turnovers, but came out of the 1^st quarter leading 6-to-2. Littleraven-Oliver scored the teams only field goal, while Dillon Lovestedt (3) and Herold Cooper (1) combined for four points at the free throw line.

With a quarter under their belt in the new configuration, Mountain View JV settled down and got their offense rolling in the second quarter. Benson led the team with seven points, two field goals and a three-pointer, Ollie Christian added another field goal, and Lovestedt converted two more charity strip points. For the game, Lovestedt would finish with nine points, 7 for 11 (.636) at the free throw line.

Additionally, under Benson’s leadership, the Squires JV defense was extremely active all over the floor and snatched 15 steals in the first half, which they converted into six points. At the final buzzer, Benson and Littleraven-Oliver would share team-high honors of seven steals each.

At the mid-point break, the Squires JV led the Sedgwick Generals 17-to-7.

To start the second half, the regular starting five were back on the court – Bulmer, Christian, Benson, Lovestedt, and Cooper. Together they scored 8 points in the 3^rd and 15 points in the 4^th quarter, for a 40-to-34 victory over the Generals.

“It feels good to started the season out 2 & 0,” Thompson stated. “It definitely feels good to get a win in our home opener. I am very proud of the boys.”

Bulmer would lead the team with 11 points, Cooper with 13 rebounds, Littleraven-Oliver and Benson in steals, and Lovestedt and Geno Hudson with a blocked shot each.

In the post-game interview Coach Thompson singled out Cooper for recognition. “Cooper's game is coming along. He is progressing everyday in practice and it is showing on the court.”

What also stood out in this game was the team’s defense. In thirty-two minutes of action Mountain View JV grabbed 32 steals, a steal a minute. Not since the early 2000’s has a Squire JV team taken the ball away from an opponent so often.

[ top ]