MARYSVILLE The M-P boys basketball team began their quest for a 4A state tournament berth Friday,
Dec. 1, with a 68-57 non-league victory over Mountlake Terrace and 24 hours later narrowly defeated 3A Mt. Vernon 67-65.
It has been said that he who laughs last, laughs the longest. In the case of M-P senior guard Ricky Holm, the 6-foot-2 inch teen was laughing all the way out of the Jim Linden Fieldhouse Saturday, Dec. 2.
Holm, sporting a white t-shirt under his white jersey, was taunted by the Mount Vernon students with chants of t-shirt but got the last laugh with a game-winning fall away jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining to give M-P a 67-65 victory.
The multi-sport athlete admitted afterward that he shouldnt have taken the low percentage shot, but was happy with the result nonetheless.
Just as I shot it I heard big Nate (Nathan Lozeau) call for the ball, but it was too late and the shot somehow went in, Holm said after being mobbed by excited classmates.
I shouldnt have shot it with a big 6-foot-10 inch guy there (Lozeau). They say you usually cant hear the crowd, but I definitely heard them tonight.
The Seattle Times ranked M-P No. 3 among 4A teams entering the 2006-07 season, but the 3A green-and-white clad Bulldogs were not intimidated on the road.
MV jumped out to an early 12-5 advantage before the Tommies called a timeout and rolled to an 11-2 run to end the first quarter leading 16-14.
The Tommies used a balance scoring effort throughout the contest as seven different players contributed to the team total.
Senior forward Sean Moser began the second quarter with a basket after an assist from Lozeau and after going 1-for-2 from the free throw line M-P led 19-14.
Holm, Lozeau and Moser followed with successive hoops and soon-to-be Eastern Washington University Eagle Lozeau brought the home crowd to their feet with a thundering dunk.
M-P extended their lead to double digits at 35-25 before MV found the bottom of the net just before halftime to cut the deficit to 35-27 entering the locker room.
Lozeau seemed to put an exclamation point on a 12-point lead with another dunk with an assist from Holm, but once again the Bulldogs came back to within nine to end the third quarter trailing 54-45.
After threatening to either tie or take the lead, MV finally evened the scoreboard at 65-all with 1:57 remaining in the tense contest.
Chants of Bulldog power seemed to be drowned out by those of Tomahawk power during a timeout.
MV attempted to kill just enough of the clock to allow for a game-winning shot, but Holm stole the ball and called a timeout just as he fell to the ground.
M-P had approximately 20 seconds to mount a winning shot and just when the game appeared to be headed toward overtime Holm threw up an off-balanced shot with 1.4 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Tommies.
Second-year coach Bary Gould said most teams would focus their defensive pressure on either Stohl or Lozeau and Holm really stepped it up.
He (Holm) is an exciting player, Gould said of the nights hero.
Gould added that his squad defeated MV in overtime in a fall league contest and was aware of their high talent level.
They (MV) have a reputation of being solid. They dont rebuild every year they reload.

At M-PHS
Mt. Vernon Coswell 25, Juarez 19, Eaton 2, Gordon 2, Walser 4, Baylis 11, Jensen.
M-P Holm 15, Stohl 17, Holthenrichs 2, Stell 3, Moser 9, Stevens 2, Lozeau 19.
Records- MV 0-1 overall. M-P 2-0.

M-P used a 26-point second quarter against Mountlake Terrace to power their 68-57 season-opening victory on the road.
Lozeau led all scorers with 24 points and fellow Division-1 recruit Stohl contributed 21 points.
Coach Gould said it was a hard fought contest but his squad was able to bounce back in the end.
We sustained in the end and it was good to see from the guys, Gould said.

At Mountlake Terrace H.S.

M-P 15 26 13 14 68
MT 17 5 24 11 57
M-P Holm 6, Stohl 21, Holtenrichs 4, Moser 9, Stevens 2, Lozeau 24.
MT Berlin 13, Beeniga 10, Wiley 13, Strieby 2, Stracener 9, Griffin 10.
3-point goals Berlin 3, Beeniga 1, Stohl 3.
JV score Mountlake Terrace 58, M-P 49.
Records M-P 1-0 overall. MT 0-1.