Battle Ground Blasts Mount Vernon

TACOMA - Battle Ground, the third-place finisher in last year's state Class AAA boys' basketball tournament, rode a 43-point performance by 6-foot-9 center Mike Brotherton to the Class AA title last night, beating Mount Vernon 95-63 - the widest margin of victory in tournament history.

It was the second appearance in the Class AA finals for Battle Ground. Brotherton, who signed an early letter of intent to play college basketball at San Jose State University, played the dominant role in a game headlined by Mount Vernon's Tim Caviezel - a 6-7 point guard headed for the University of Washington.

While both players had electrifying moments during the game, it was Brotherton who was the force behind the victory.

At 225 pounds, Brotherton was unstoppable inside against the lighter Bulldogs. Brotherton collected 17 points and five blocked shots in the first half alone, igniting a Battle Ground run that saw the Tigers take a huge first-quarter lead.

``When Mike started off like that, all we were thinking about was getting the ball to him,'' said Jason Hoseney, a 6-1 senior forward.

``We're not a selfish team,'' said Travis Blue, the son of Coach Butch Blue and the team's point guard. ``We just went out and played our style of basketball. Brotherton was just awesome.''

After Mount Vernon made a run, Brotherton started the second half by turning into the free-throw lane for an easy, short jumper, then added a resounding slam dunk. His power slam with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter, a shot that shook the basket standard and was felt along press row, gave Battle Ground a 15-point lead and sent a shudder through the Bulldogs' chances of mounting a comeback.

Brotherton, who saved his best game for the championship round, had three dunks among his 43 points and had seven blocked shots. Brotherton's total was one point short of tying the tournament record.

Blue took his center out with less than three minutes remaining. But the Battle Ground fans began chanting ``We want Mike, We want Mike,'' begging the coach to let Brotherton go for the record.

In a rare show of class, Blue refused to put Brotherton back into the game until he had asked Mount Vernon Coach Mac Fraser for permission.

Had Brotherton scored one more field goal, he would have owned both the tournament and school record. Both are 44 points.

For his effort, Brotherton was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He was also the tournament scoring leader with 99 points.

Caviezel got the Mount Vernon offense in gear in the second quarter and the Bulldogs mounted a comeback, cutting the big Battle Ground lead to just five points at halftime.

The 6-7 senior diced into the middle of the Tigers' defense, deftly dropping passes to cutting teammates Chris Gamble and Troy Holmes.

But even those efforts were ably defended by Battle Ground. Two Mount Vernon fast breaks were thwarted of the backboard by Tiger guards.

Caviezel, who scored 17 points, capped his high-school career with a magnificent tournament, but the magic he unveiled in Mount Vernon's upset of previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Enumclaw in the semifinals, was not to be found.

``I saw him play Friday night and I was just scared to death,'' Coach Blue said. ``You have to be back playing defense by the time he gets there or else it's turn out the lights.''

Travis Blue added 18 points for Battle Ground.

The tournament drew 12,057 to watch the boys' and girls' champions crowned. The four-day tournament drew 46,544 - its highest all-time total. The Class A tournaments last week drew 60,389.