by Mark Butcher

Sports Writer

Mountain View Boys Basketball travelled to Poulsbo, Wash., Monday (Nov. 19) to take-on the Poulsbo Panthers in the third game of the 2018 Kitsap Co. Middle School Boys Basketball season.

The Bremerton-Poulsbo basketball rivalry is an old one, dating back to the early 1900’s. It regenerates each year at the Middle School level, 7^th-grade, where the players face each other for the first time as representatives of their school. And, it renews each year at the Middle School and High School levels until the players graduate from either Bremerton or North Kitsap High.

This year’s initial match-up between the Squires and the Panthers had a little extra kick to it. It was the first time the teams had met since Mountain View defeated Poulsbo in the 2017 Middle School Boys Basketball Championship at Mountain View.

The Panthers will visit the Squires for a second game this season on Wednesday, Dec. 5^th.

When Mountain View stepped onto the floor Monday, Poulsbo had a couple of surprises waiting for them. The Panthers opened with a 1-3-1 full-court press. Starting at point, Squire 7^th-grader Trenton Bulmer began being harassed by Poulsbo’s lead defender as soon as he got the ball up to the backcourt free throw line. Under pressure, his next challenge was to advance the ball passed the three Panther defenders spread out along the half-court line. When the Squires got the ball into their front court, Poulsbo retreated into a closely guarded man-on-man defense.

Facing full-court pressure and man defense for the first time this season, the Mountain View players struggled at times. But not any worse than their two previous games. Their turnovers were on pare with their season average (25). They attempted more field goals (52) than either of the first two games and made their usual 29%. On the glass, they retrieved 40% of their missed shots for second attempts and recorded a season-high 43 total rebounds.

At half-time the Squires were still in the game, trailing 18-to-33. But starting wing, Samuel Tucker, was on the bench with a right wrist injury. With three minutes remaining in the half, he fell awkward while driving into the paint.

Where the game got away from them was in the third quarter. Similar to their season-opener at Central Kitsap, the Squires gave up big points (27) to the Panthers in the third period.

Head Coach Jesse Taylor resolved the defense leakage in the final period and Mountain View scored 11 to Poulsbo’s 14 points. But the damage had already been done and the Squires board the bus home with their third loss of the season, 71-to-36.

Within the loss, there were bright spots for Coach Taylor to build upon.

Jaylon Green followed his 15-point 12 rebound performance against John Sedgwick last Thursday (Nov. 15) with another double-double game. Throughout the game, he quietly churned away and put 12-points and 22-rebounds into the scorebook by the final buzzer. The 22 boards, 8 offensive and 14 defense, broke Aiden Olmstead's 21 rebound record set last season, also against Poulsbo.

Trevon Pietz also played well in the confusion of full-court pressure and man-on-man half-court defense. He was the Squires second double-digit score, with 11 points, along with dishing out three assists, pulling down three rebounds, and snatching three steals.

Bulmer also continued to improve as an underclassman. The bigger-stronger-older Poulsbo players blocked several of his shots and defensively swarmed him all over the back court. But the obstacles weren’t bigger than he could handle. Adjusting on the fly, he shared team-high assists honors (3) with Pietz. He also pulled down four rebounds and grabbed a steal in 24 minutes of action.

Next week, after the Thanksgiving holiday, Mountain View has a busy schedule with three home games. Monday (Nov. 26) they will host the undefeated Ridgetop Raiders (3-0). Then on Wednesday (Nov. 28), the Central Kitsap Cubs (2-2) will be in town for a rematch. And finally, Thursday (Nov. 29) the Curtis Cougars (2-1) will step onto the Squires home floor for the first of two games this season.

Tip-off for all three varsity games at Mountain View Middle School will be at 3:30 p.m.

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