Trailing 33-17 at the half, the Rainier boys basketball team couldn’t quite make up the deficit in a 59-47 loss to Wahkiakum in Cathlamet Thursday night. 

The Mountaineers turned the ball over too many times and dug themselves into too deep a hole in the loss. 

“Turnovers and empty possessions really cost us tonight,” Mountaineers coach Ben Sheaffer said. “They are a good club that has some really skilled offensive players. We battled in the second half and made a nice run, but it was too little, too late.” 

Jake (11), Josh (10), and Jimmy (10) Meldrum all scored in double figures, and Sheaffer commended the play of Jared Sprouffske, who scored 11 and was physical on both sides of the ball. 

The Mountaineers take on Tenino at home on Tuesday for their next game.