Mountaineers Upset Previously-Unbeaten Ducks

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Senior Ian Sprouffske went off for a team-high 27 points and Rainier handed visiting Toutle Lake its first defeat of the season in an impressive 65-51 early-season victory at home Thursday.

Rainier led all four quarters and built a 37-22 lead at the half as Sprouffske and Ducks’ star sophomore Zach Swanson engaged in a shootout. Swanson finished with a game-high 29.

But the Mountaineers fended off every comeback attempt, with Curtis Keller adding 14 points, Josh Meldrum hitting for 11 and Jake Meldrum finishing with seven.

The Mountaineers had zero turnovers during a 21-10 run in the second quarter, and their defense held Toutle’s high-scoring senior Jackson Cox to four points.

It was a redeeming victory for a Mountaineers team that was coming off a season-opening loss to Tenino last week.

Rainier (1-1) next hosts Onalaska at 7 p.m. on Saturday.