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Mountain View boys basketball team grinds out another close win, 56-55, over Prairie

Thunder win their fourth straight 3A GSHL game by single digits

By Will Denner, Columbian staff reporter
Published: January 17, 2025, 11:05pm

A young and talented team, the Mountain View Thunder have an extra trait that can’t be taught.

“I feel like our team, we have a lot of heart,” sophomore point guard Malcolm Weatherspoon explained. “We all love each other.”

It’s part of a winning recipe for a squad that’s won all four of its 3A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball games by less than 10 points, including Friday’s nail-biting 56-55 win over Prairie that came down to the final buzzer.

Mountain View summoned that heart after facing a double-digit deficit in the opening quarter, rallying back and surviving multiple lead changes late.

19 Photos
Prairie junior Carson Morningstar (20) passes the ball Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, during the Falcons’ 56-55 loss to Mountain View at Mountain View High School.
Boys Basketball: Prairie at Mountain View Photo Gallery

After Weatherspoon made two free throws with 20 seconds left to give the Thunder a three-point cushion, Prairie’s Carson Morningstar scored a layup on the other end before the Thunder committed a turnover in the backcourt to give the Falcons two final shot attempts. The latter, a a baseline jumper coming off an inbounds pass with three seconds left, hit the front rim and bounced off.

The Thunder made a beeline for the bench to celebrate their latest triumph, exchanging high fives and chest bumps with teammates.

“We’re still learning how to win,” Mountain View coach JC Alexander said. “We’re super young, we’ve got a lot of grit and they just want it bad. So, for them to weather the storm in the first half, down coming into the second half, then weather that last little run in the fourth … it’s a testament to their effort in practice every day. And, just their will and their want.”

Despite the Thunder’s youth on a roster that features five sophomores and four juniors, they’ve performed like veterans in crunch time with close wins against the likes of Heritage (eight points), Kelso (three points) and Evergreen (five points).

Friday’s clash was even closer, with eight lead changes in the fourth quarter between the top two teams in the league. Mountain View (11-4, 4-0) took the lead for good when Weatherspoon hit a shot with under two minutes left and Trey Johnson added a layup inside of a minute.

Weatherspoon, who led the Thunder with 17 points, also made 4-of-4 free throws in the quarter.

“I love the pressure,” Weatherspoon said. “I knew the free throws were important, the layup was important. Every single play down the stretch … we couldn’t waste a single play because they would capitalize on it.”

Morningstar, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, led Prairie (8-6, 2-1) with 24 points, including one stretch between the third and fourth quarters when he scored 10 straight for the Falcons.

A matchup nightmare for most opponents, Morningstar is averaging a league-best 25 points per game. Mountain View sophomore Jack Fournier, who stands 6–foot-5, drew the defensive assignment on Morningstar and was lauded by teammates and coaches for his efforts.

“Just get physical, that’s all there is to it,” said Fournier, describing his defensive strategy.

“Carson is a fantastic player, super fundamental and he’s a tough guard every night,” Alexander said. “Jack rose up to the challenge, he played well and Auzzi (Ashdown) off the bench played really well defensively. It was a big team effort.”

Luke Swerdlik added 11 points while Fournier and Johnson each tallied nine points to pace the Thunder, who get a week-long reprieve from their 3A GHSL schedule before starting the second half against Heritage on Jan. 24 in the driver’s seat for first place.

Four tough league games so far have taught the Thunder they can’t take any opponent for granted.

“Every single team we play from now on … they’re all gonna want it,” Weatherspoon said. “We can’t come out and just think we’re going to win by 20. We gotta have heart. We have to fight.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW 56, PRAIRIE 55

PRAIRIE — Jamir Jones 4, Malachi Patton 14, Ben Nkansah 2, Carson Morningstar 24, Tavin Timperley 3, Daniel Carbajal-Vargas 6, Griffin Smith 0.  Totals 22 (4) 7-16 55.

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Theo Sheron 3, Tre’von Hughes-Farmer 5, Malcolm Weatherspoon 17, Luke Swerdlik 11, Carter Soucy 2, Jack Fournier 9, Trey Johnson 9. Totals 23 (3) 7-12 56.

Prairie               18          12          10          15—55

Mtn. View        10          17          14          15—56

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