Mustangs make a date with state

Thanks to the some home cookin' and hot shootin', the Mustangs extended their magnificent postseason run this week to the Tacoma Dome, the site of the Class 4A state tournament. The Redmond boys’ basketball team beat Mountain View of Vancouver, 69-58, in a loser-out, winner-to-state pigtail playoff game Saturday night at Redmond High School, securing the Mustangs' second state trip in the last three seasons.

By Tim Watanabe • March 2, 2009 5:29 pm
Redmond Superfans and players celebrate on the court after the Mustangs' 69-58 win over the Mountain View Thunder of Vancouver. Redmond plays top-ranked Federal Way in the opener of the Class 4A State Tournament this Wednesday at noon at the Tacoma Dome
Redmond Superfans and players celebrate on the court after the Mustangs' 69-58 win over the Mountain View Thunder of Vancouver. Redmond plays top-ranked Federal Way in the opener of the Class 4A State Tournament this Wednesday at noon at the Tacoma Dome

Thanks to the some home cookin’ and hot shootin’, the Mustangs extended their magnificent postseason run this week to the Tacoma Dome, the site of the Class 4A state tournament.

The Redmond boys’ basketball team beat Mountain View of Vancouver, 69-58, in a loser-out, winner-to-state pigtail playoff game Saturday night at Redmond High School, securing the Mustangs’ second state trip in the last three seasons.

The Mustangs (16-9) open up against the streaking Federal Way Eagles (24-2), who have won 13 straight, at noon on Wednesday, March 4.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” said Larson about playing the 24-2 SPSL powerhouse. “We’re going to play as hard as we can. We’re grateful to be there, no question about it. Only 16 teams get this chance, but we’re going to go play, not just to see the Tacoma Dome.”

Redmond used the friendly confines of Reiger Gymnasium, excellent long-range shooting early in Saturday’s game and clutch free-throws down the stretch to keep the Thunder at bay and seal a state spot.

Mustang guard Phil Leland buried three 3-pointers in a row in the first quarter as the Mustangs led 19-18 after the first quarter. Thanks to a solid defensive effort in front of a packed house of raucous Mustang Superfans, Redmond extended its lead to eight heading into the fourth quarter.

And just like so many games before, the Mustangs sealed the win — and their ticket to state — with nearly flawless free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter.

Redmond shot 13 of 14 from the line in the final eight minutes of play, including a 6-for-6 effort by senior point guard Will Ellis. Justin Alexander and Chris Harrington also combined to shoot a solid 10 of 13 from the line during the game.

In the most important game the program has seen since 2007 — the last time the Mustangs advanced to state — the green and gold were able to play an unselfish brand of basketball, spreading the scoring duties around with success.

Four Mustangs finished in double-digits. Harrington and Leland each scored 16 points. Leland’s point total was a career high. Alexander added 14 points and Ellis pitched in with 12.

Six-foot-six senior forward Jared Alexander contributed on the boards, severely limiting the Thunder’s second chances with eight defensive rebounds, while Harrington grabbed seven boards, six at the defensive end.

And when the opportunity presented itself for the Mustangs to drive the lane, they did, shooting 16 of 20 in the paint.

In the end, all that hard work paid off for the Mustangs.

“We’re very proud, for sure,” Redmond coach Jeff Larson said. “It’s not like it was overnight. It was a long time coming for these guys, they’ve worked very hard to get there. You can work hard for something but it doesn’t mean it will always go your way, so I’m happy they were able to get rewarded for their dedication and hard work.”

As Larson alluded to after Thursday night’s 50-44 win against Roosevelt — which set up Saturday’s dream scenario of playing a winner-to-state game in front of Redmond fans — there’s simply no place like home.

“It was definitely an advantage,” said Larson. “They had to travel on a bus for three hours and we had the comfort of our own gym. Just the stakes of playing a winner-to-state at home, the guys were going to do everything they could not to lose that game.”

ROUGHING UP ROOSEVELT

Led by a stellar performance by Harrington, the Redmond boys’ basketball team defeated the Roosevelt Roughriders 50-44, Thursday night at Juanita High, setting up Saturday’s all-or-nothing game.

The Mustangs trailed by eight at the half after shooting just 6 for 19 from the field. But after a crucial halftime pep talk from coach Jeff Larson, Redmond came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.

“We were losing the battle inside, and that’s something we’ve been trying to improve on,” Larson said. “We were out-rebounded and outscored in the paint in the first half, and it’s time to take it personal. We have to find a way to keep teams out of the paint.”

They did just that, while attacking the lane with aggression.

Redmond started the third quarter with an 8-0 run and shot an incredible 11-of-13 in the second half as a team.

Harrington contributed seven consecutive points for the ‘Stangs as they drained eight out of their last 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to keep the game just out of the Roughriders’ reach.