Rainier didn’t earn any style points on Friday in Rochester, but the Mountaineers did top Toutle Lake 41-34 in a 2B District 4 Tournament Elimination Game to keep their season alive.
Rainier led 12-4 after one, but led by just one point at 15-14 at the break.
The offense had its best quarter in the third, when it scored 16 points to push the lead to nine.
Peyton Sheaffer led the Mountaineers with 14 points, Nehemiah Linson added nine, and Jordan Pringle scored six. Ryder Martin tallied five, Devin Sheaffer added four, and Ty Beckman logged one.
“Anytime you can win a loser out district game you have to celebrate it,” Rainier coach Ben Sheaffer said. “It wasn't overly pretty for either team, but our defense and execution of the game plan was pretty sound. We guarded, rebounded, stayed connected, and we are moving on.”
Rainier (12-11) will play Forks on Wednesday in Castle Rock, and the winner of that game will face the loser of the Toledo-Ilwaco semifinal for a spot in the state tournament in Chehalis on Feb. 20.
