Rainier ripped off a 15-0 run to start the game and never looked back as the Mountaineers took a 51-38 victory over the visiting Tenino Beavers in the season opener on Monday.
Junior star Kaeley Schultz scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Mountaineers. Junior Faith Boesch added 11 points, eighth graders Brooklynn Swenson scored seven and junior Isabella Holmes added six points. Eighth-grader Bryn Beckman chipped in three points.
Tenino was led by Ashley Schow’s team-high 16 points, while Abby Severse scored eight, Alivia Hunter had six, Megan Letts finished with four and Grace Vestal and Rylee Jones each had two.
Tenino coach Scott Ashmore said it’s been difficult preparing for the season opener with only having two practices under their belts.
The Beavers actually outscored Rainier 25-19 in the second half and cut the lead to nine during one stretch, but couldn’t complete a comeback.
“Our defense was decent,” Ashmore said. “We’ve just got to put the ball in the basket. We’ve got to shoot better. We’ve got work to do, but you have to have time to do it.”
The Beavers (0-1) get one more practice in before heading to La Center for a matchup on Wednesday.
Rainier (1-0) also has one more practice before hosting Toledo on Wednesday.
