Boys basketball: Fort Vancouver 80, Mountain View 73

Fort Vancouver boys basketball team’s 1-13 start is well in the rear-view mirror.

The Trappers are now winners of two straight 3A Greater St. Helens League contests and remain in the thick of the playoff hunt after staving off Mountain View, 80-73, in Friday’s 3A GSHL showdown.

“They’re starting to play together more and starting to play at a varsity level,” Ensley said. “It was a well-needed win. If they got us tonight, it would’ve put us out of the playoffs.”

Instead, the Trappers remain alive in what’s a log-jam race in spots 2-5 with Prairie, Evergreen, Mountain View with four league games remaining.

The Trappers raced out to a 20-point lead after the first quarter, outscoring the Thunder 33-13, and held off a Mountain View team behind a 40-point performance by Kaden Horn.

Horn shot 14 of 21 including hitting eight of Mountain View’s nine 3s.

Ensley noted a career night from Vincent Bennett, who had 18 points on 6 of 8 shooting from 3-point range. James Husband had a team-high 28 points and 10 rebounds.

“When you start to believe,” Ensley said, “you start to believe.”

FORT VANCOUVER 80, MOUNTAIN VIEW 73

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Colby Smith 0, Austin Lee 3, Trevor Binder 1, Mason Wulf 2, Jordan Cook 6, Ethan Blanchard 6, Nate Lomas, Devin Velott 15, Kaden Horn 40. Totals 28 (9) 8-13 73.

FORT VANCOUVER — Vincent Bennett 18, James Husband Jr. 28, Keyontae Cage 2, Ezekial Block 2, Kahlil Singleton 11, Sergio Hunt 11, Tyrique Cargile 6, Myron Lawrence 2. Totals 26 (12) 16-20 80.

Mt. View 13 20 18 22–73

Fort 33 11 20 16–80