By Brian MacKenzie and Ethan Riker

In the space of a week, East Jefferson’s basketball boys got blown out at Life Christian and Kennedy Catholic, but then bounced back to obliterate Charles Wright in PT before getting dominated by Annie Wright in Chimacum.

At 5-5, the EJ Rivals ranked fifth in the Nisqually League when they ventured to Tacoma on Jan. 26 for a road rematch against third-place Life Christian, 7-4. The Eagles had soundly beaten the Rivals on Dec. 15 in PT.

Defending their own aerie, the Eagles glided to victory even more easily, 80-51.

Six-foot-seven senior shooting guard Keidan Guzman generated most of EJ’s offense. He scored 27 points–including five three-pointers–grabbed seven rebounds, and dished four assists.

On Jan. 29, EJ played a non-conference game in Seattle against 4A Kennedy Catholic. The Rivals rested several starters to keep them fresh for league games later in the week, so the Lancers skewered EJ, 80-51. However, Guzman shone again, posting 11 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and four assists.

The 5-6 Rivals next hosted 4-9 Charles Wright Academy. EJ had narrowly beaten the seventh-place Tarriers in Tacoma, 75-70, on Jan. 3. But the Jan. 30 rematch was not close: The Rivals devastated Charles Wright in PT, 75-49.

Long limited by injury, senior guard Cash Holmes showed he’s money again by scoring a team-leading 24 points. 

“The bench and my teammates got me into a flow,” Holmes said. “I just kept shooting and I wasn’t missing.”

Indeed, Holmes shot 82 percent (9/11) from the floor and 75 percent (6/8) from the three-point line.

Guzman chipped in another 12 points, pulled down eight rebounds, snagged four steals, and delivered three assists.

Junior guard Traycen Brown and senior center Stuart Dow each scored eight points. The six-foot-eight Dow also hauled in a dozen rebounds and blocked two shots.

“We trusted each other with the ball and played like a team,” said senior point guard Brody Moore. “We weren’t hesitating on our shots and were confident with everything we did.”

The 6-6 Rivals needed all the confidence they could get, because two days later, first-place Annie Wright Academy came to Chimacum. With EJ Coach Emmanuel Abbott home sick, assistant coaches Chris Stepanski and Chris Harris took the reins against the Gators.

The Rivals played with heart, but Annie Wright ran fast, shot accurately, defended ably, and made EJ pay for every mistake. The 14-0 Gators closed their jaws on EJ early and never let go, winning 91-39.

Last Thursday’s loss dropped the Rivals to 6-7, but they remain fifth in the nine-team Nisqually League. EJ hosted Bellevue Christian in PT on Friday and Vashon Island in Chimacum yesterday. The Rivals finish the regular season tomorrow night in Tacoma at Annie Wright.