The 6-foot-7 Capital senior caused havoc for the Rams’ inside game with his size and long arms. He – along with 6-5 fellow senior Logan Myers – made it difficult for the Rams to get off a shot from inside 10 feet.
Williams finished one blocked shot away from a triple-double, tallying 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks in the Cougars’ 58-51 win over North Thurston on Friday night.
Capital, which improved its winning streak to 15 games, dominated by more than the final score would suggest.
The Cougars (17-1 overall, 7-0 in the 3A Western Cascade Conference) had a 26-13 after Colin Bossio’s jumper lead halfway through the second quarter and maintained a double-digit lead until the closing two minutes of the game.
Bossio’s basket started a 20-7 run that continued into the third quarter as Capital built a 20-point lead at 44-24.
“When we move the ball, we get good looks,” Capital coach Doug Galloway said. “When we get good looks, our shooting percentage goes up.”
Capital shot 37.3 percent from the field, connecting on 22 of 59 shots. Shawn Erwin scored 12 of his team-high 19 points during the first half, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line.
Landon Rushton made 10 of his 20 field-goal attempts and finished with a game-high 25 points for North Thurston (5-13, 0-7).
Capital clinched the WCC title on Tuesday with its 71-47 win over Yelm. That also gave the Cougars the No. 1 seed into the sub-district tournament and an automatic berth into the district tournament. The Cougars most likely will host Bremerton, currently the Olympic League’s No. 1 seed, on Feb. 22 in a sub-district seeding game.
Williams said the improvement in his game over the course of the season has come partially from gaining confidence.
“It’s allowed me to be able to do a lot more things,” Williams said. “I have faith in myself, and my teammates have more faith in me. With the press we have and the good team we’ve put together this year, it will take us a long way.”
Things got physical for both teams late in the third quarter.
With 2:49 left in the quarter, Bossio moved to double-team Matt Reid and was popped in the upper jaw by Reid’s elbow. Bossio, who was called for a blocking foul on the play, hit the floor and instantly clutched his mouth. The result? His top two front teeth were pushed inward. Bossio left the gym briefly to receive treatment and returned to the bench a few minutes later holding gauze to help stop the bleeding. Galloway said Bossio will get orthodontic work and possibly wear a mouth guard for the rest of the season.
Seconds later, Erwin and North Thurston’s Oliver Nelson got into it, and double technicals were given.
“After the technical was called, both teams settled down and played basketball,” North Thurston coach Tim Brown said. “I thought out kids put it behind them and went out and played hard.”
North Thurston outscored Capital 23-12 in the fourth and got within single digits again after a layup by Rushton. The Rams shot 20 of 56 from the floor but 3 of 19 from 3-point range.
The Rams’ hope of remaining in the hunt for a playoff berth was dashed after their 77-68 loss to Timberline on Tuesday. North Thurston’s seven conference defeats have come by an average of just 6.5 points.
mwochnick@theolympian.com
