From YMCA Ball to the Long Awaited Rivalry: RAL vs. MM Boys Basketball

By Sean Axon

 The 116^th Civil War game between the Jacks and Monarchs was crazier and closer than ever.
         This game for both teams is a lot different then past years, with two teams consisting of mostly seniors who have played with or against each other since they first started dribbling a basketball.
         “Ever since I can remember, my friends and team have been really competitive with the seniors on the Monarch’s [team] and it is a huge rivalry,” Levi Welch 12, a RAL basketball player said.
         Most of Longview was crammed into the Lumberdome, or “Ghetto Dome” as Mark Morris fans call it, Thursday, Jan 14.
  The Jack fans came into the game in style, busting through fog and bobbing their heads to “Back in Black” by ACDC. That shocked the Monarch fans, and the two went back and fourth with each other all game.

        The 116^th game was a scrappy, close one that crowned the Monarchs. The Jacks lost 53-58 at home, but led going into halftime. Angelo Folz- Edwards led the Jacks in scoring with 17,  and for the Monarchs Sean Atkins led with 24. At halftime, the Jacks led 29-27, but couldn’t keep it up in the fourth quarter and were out-rebounded through out the game. But RAL shots were hitting from all over the court.

      “I feel like going into the next game we have confidence and things to work on but overall the game should be a good one to watch. We need to be able to out-rebound them and out-hustle them.” Russel Lengyel 12 said.

      Mark Morris now leads the series 83-33. The Jacks’ last win came in 2004. But, the last couple of years have been different because of the Monarchs many transfers. This year, most of the players from both teams come from Longview, which means its more of a rivalry except for one player from Sequim for the Monarchs.

    R.A. Long meets up with Mark Morris again on Feb 9 at Ted Nat court. The Jacks will be working hard and preparing in practice for another intense rivalry game where they hope to defeat the Monarchs. Overall, the Jacks had a tough non–league schedule to start the season and competed with 4A teams to prepare them for the regular season. Their record so far is 7-8 and 3-2 in league.