The Mountain View boys basketball team settled this Southwest Washington Class 3A battle once and for all.
Well, at least for all of the remainder of this high school season.
The Thunder still have a season after Zach Torson torched Clark County rival Prairie for 42 points Saturday in a loser-out game at the Class 3A bi-district tournament at Franklin Pierce High School. Mountain View won 85-69.
Mountain View will play a seeding game Monday. Prairie’s season came to an end, losers of three of four against the Thunder.
It turned out the last one was a do-or-go home situation. And Mountain View did it.
No matter what happens in Monday’s game, the Thunder have reached the sweet 16 in Washington and will play in the regionals next week for the opportunity to go to the state tournament.
“The last four years, none of our teams have gone,” said Torson, a senior. “To be on that first team to go just makes me really happy right now. We wanted it really bad, and we did it.”
In the past, the final 16 in the state would count for going to state. Not anymore. But that does not matter to Mountain View coach Nate DuChesne.
“We’re in the top 16. Whether they call it state or not, it’s a great accomplishment for this team. We set some goals, and we reached them at this point.”
Torson finished three points off the school record, connecting on 11 of 21 shots from the floor. He was 4 of 8 from 3-point range and 16 of 17 from the line.
“I knew I was up there,” Torson said. “I knew I had a bunch of free throws and some easy baskets early. I want to give all credit to my teammates for finding me open.”
Post Ryan Johnson had eight assists to go along with his 11 points and nine rebounds. Luke DuChesne connected on four 3-pointers for his 12 points.
Ryan Denny led Prairie with 19 points. He was 9 of 10 from the line.
A 10-0 run in the first quarter gave Mountain View the lead for good. The Thunder stretched an eight-point lead to 16 by the half. Torson had 20 first-half points.
The lead grew to as many as 24 in the third quarter, but the Falcons rallied in the fourth, making it a 10-point game at 73-63 with 3:45 remaining.
The Thunder settled things with the next four points, then made a bunch of free throws down the stretch.
Ryan Denny had 19 points to lead Prairie (17-8).
MOUNTAIN VIEW 85, PRAIRIE 69
MOUNTAIN VIEW (18-7) — Akash Sanghera 0, Zach Torson 42, Taylor Drey 8, Ryan Johnson 11, Luke DuChesne 12, Rico Bolivar 6, Sean McCauley 4, Shane McCauley 2. Totals 24 (9) 28-38 85.
PRAIRIE (17-8) — Colton Prestwich 2, Reece Burnett 10, JaMariay McDonald 0, Preston Brooks 9, James Phillips 12, Ryan Denny 19, Andy Hak 6, Nathan Cherzan 11, Spencer Jordan 0. Totals 24 (5) 16-22 69.
