EVERETT — The Tomahawk boys basketball team was doing a lot of things right.

Protecting the ball, passing inside to 6-8 post Spencer Elwell and taking Cascade standout Chris McGrath out of the game.

“Really, our goal was to get the ball inside to our big man because they didn’t have a 6-8 guy,” said M-P coach Bary Gould.

But by halftime, even though Elwell had 11 points and McGrath was limited to six — all the points he’d get in the Jan. 16 game — M-P still trailed 28-21. But hot three-point shooting gave Cascade an edge and the Tomahawks needed some kind of answer.

“Our offense and team weren’t getting shots, so I thought I’d go to the basket in the second half,” said senior guard Tyler Holm.

Holm, whose defense had been a factor in limiting McGrath’s productivity, was true to his word. As the Tomahawks closed on Cascade’s lead early in the fourth quarter, Holm hit a big three-pointer to tie the game up 44-44.

“I wouldn’t have had him shoot that three-pointer,” Gould said. “But like we say, it’s always a great shot if you hit it.”

The Bruins turned the ball over on the next possession and it ended up in Holm’s hands again, part of a 10-3 run he single-handedly posted against Cascade, culminating in a steal, basket and three-point play that put M-P up for good, 51-47 with less than a minute remaining.

The Tomahawks won, 53-49.

Elwell and Holm each finished with a team-high 16 points, while senior guard Ryan Lanphere had 11.

“We’re playing amazing team basketball,” Holm said. “No one’s selfish on this team. … We’ve got to play this way to win.”

Click here for more photos.