MOUNT SHASTA – The Mt. Shasta Bears kept their hopes alive for a share of the Shasta Cascade League title by eliminating the Trinity Wolves from contention on Tuesday night. With the 75-58 win, the Bears (8-3) sit one game behind the Weed Cougars (9-2) in the SCL standings. The teams collide on Friday night in Weed. A Bear win would make Weed and Mt. Shasta co-champions. A win for Weed means an outright championship for the Cougars.

If you like your basketball action fast and furious, you would have loved the Mt. Shasta v Trinity match up. The Bears put up 23 points in the first quarter to lead 23-14 going into the second frame. Mt. Shasta trailed briefly 5-4 less than two minutes into the game.

A hoop by Eric Thelander gave Mt. Shasta the lead, 6-5. After Ttrinity tied it with a freebie, 6-6, Tim Jaegel drove to the hoop for a bucket and an 8-6 Bear lead—a lead they would not surrender. Bear Andrew Campbell capped off the first quarter scoring with a 3-point play the hard way.

The Bears enjoyed a 6-12 point lead through the second quarter and went to the locker room with a 10-point advantage, 37-27.

Helped by a technical foul against a Bear player, Trinity made a surge late in the third quarter. With the score 49-39, Trinity’s Justin Jeangerard hit both technical foul shots, to make it 49-41. Wolf Kenny Swain added a free throw, 49-42. A Mark Maumasi put back for the Bears made it 51-42. Jeangerard nailed a 3-ball and Trever Martin scored to bring the Wolves within four points, 51-47 at the end of the third quarter.

The break between quarters was all the Bears needed to get back on track. Mt. Shasta scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter. Campbell opened the scoring with a reverse lay up, 53-47. Jake Padula drained a trey, 56-47. A Thelander put back made it 58-47. Two from the charity stripe by Gene Kenyon upped the Bear lead to 13 points, 60-47, with about five minutes to play in the game.

Trinity would cut the margin below 10 points only once the remainder of the way, 60-51, as the Bears went on to a 17 point win,, 75-58.

Gene Kenyon led Mt. Shasta with 20 points. Tim Jaegel put up 16, including three 3-pointers. Eric Thelander scored 15, and Jake Padula had 10 points.

Trinity’s Justin Jeangerard led all scorers with 27 points. Dakota Hayward had 8, and Jared Atterberry scored 6 points for the Wolves.

While the Bears are battling the Cougars this Friday, Trinity (16-8, 7-4) will be at Modoc (1-19, 1-10)