Rams run away with it

The trio scored 50 of the Rams’ points in a 69-55 nonleague win Friday over Timberline for their fourth consecutive victory.

Broeker led all scorers with 26 points, which also was his season high. Reid, one game after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in a 67-64 win over Mark Morris on Wednesday, knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.

Rushton, who has scored more than 30 points in two games already this season, was held to 10 points on 2-for-14 shooting but got to double figures thanks to his free-throw shooting. He was 4-for-5 from the line.

Rams coach Tim Brown said he was pleased to have multiple players step up, particularly when one of the seniors is having an off-night.

The Rams got that type of contribution from junior Tru Hicks, who had six of his eight points off the bench in a 90-second span of the third quarter during a 15-0 run that gave North Thurston the lead for good.

“It’s nice to have depth and see kids get some points like that,” Brown said.

The first half featured eight lead changes and six ties, until the big run separated the Rams (4-1) for good.

North Thurston held Timberline (2-3) scoreless for more than six minutes – in the final 3:04 of the third quarter and the first 3:46 of the fourth to build a 52-40 lead.

Donaven Dorsey’s 3-pointer ended the Blazers’ scoring drought, but the damage had already been done. Dorsey led Timberline with 21 points on 9-for-19 shooting.

During Timberline’s scoreless streak, North Thurston overcame a three-point deficit at 40-37 to build its 12-point lead – capped off by two free throws from Broeker.

The Rams outscored the Blazers 32-15 in the final 11 minutes of the game.

Drew Dixon had the inside game working early for Timberline, scoring eight of his 12 points in the first half. But he attempted only one shot in the fourth quarter.

“Credit North Thurston. They did a nice job defensively,” Blazers coach Mike Tafoya said. “We had some missed opportunities and with a good team like (North Thurston), you can’t have wasted possessions.”

North Thurston opens up 2A Evergreen Conference play Tuesday against Chehalis, while Timberline continues its nonleague schedule next Friday with a game against River Ridge. North Thurston will join Timberline in the Narrows 3A League for the next two years starting next fall.