Senior Eli McLennan passed the ball to sophomore Blake Brown. Brown sent it back. McLennan gave it right back to him.

Brown was wide open, and McLennan wanted him to take the shot. The crowd was urging him to shoot, too. When Brown let it go, he placed it well and scored.

It was a satisfying moment for a hardworking player who is well liked by his teammates. McLennan trusted him with the opportunity, and Brown supplied the finish.

That exchange was one of the highlights of Mt. Whitney’s 17–4 win over Monache on Thursday, an afternoon when the Pioneers took control and coach Steven Chapman made sure they handled the lead with restraint.

As the game went on, Chapman asked for an extra pass before shooting. Near the end, he instructed the boys to wait until the final five seconds of the shot clock. Monache was having a difficult game, and Whitney had no need to push the score higher.

Sophomore Micah O’Dell led the Pioneers with four goals. McLennan, senior Ruben Ramirez and sophomore Alexander DeBock each scored three, while junior Jamen Radmacher added two. Freshman Zane Piper and Brown contributed one apiece.

Whitney’s defense helped keep the game in its hands. Ramirez and Piper each collected five steals, while McLennan and O’Dell added four apiece. On offense, McLennan and Piper finished with three assists each, Radmacher added two, and Ramirez had one.

Sharing the ball has been a strength in Whitney’s recent games. Against Monache, seven players scored, and Chapman kept the boys focused on making good decisions even after the outcome was clear. Find the open teammate, make the extra pass and trust one another to finish. McLennan and Brown’s exchange was a fitting example.