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West Seattle Outlasts Beach, Metro Title Game Bound

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West Seattle Outlasts Beach, Metro Title Game Bound
By Steve Dion

Wednesday- February 8th 2017 Girls 3A Metro Semifinals
Alaska Airlines Arena 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 11 12 21 7 51
Rainier Beach 8 16 13 8 45

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West Seattle Wildcats

The Metro League semifinals at Alaska Airlines Arena tipped off with the girls #2 vs. #3 seed game between Rainier Beach & West Seattle.

For playing less than 24 hours prior, the young West Seattle squad was ready to compete taking an early lead with Jasmine Gayles & Jenna McPhee leading the charge. Beach countered with a flurry of buckets in the post by talented freshman Dalayah Daniels. The second seeded Lady Viks were able to take a one-point lead to the locker room 24-23.

The Wildcats emerged from the locker room ready to take control of the game with Meghan Fiso scoring six of the Wildcats 21 in the quarter. Grace Sarver continued to tack on to extend the lead as the defense started to clamp down in unison. A late surge by the Vikings wasn’t enough to climb back into the game as West Seattle advances to the championship game.

The Final Score
West Seattle 51, Rainier Beach 45

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Jasmine Gayles- 16 points

Rainier Beach
Karizma Loeffler- 13 points

Beach Boys Set to Take Off for Alaska Airlines Arena

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Beach Boys Set to Take Off for Alaska Airlines Arena
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 7th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Rainier Beach High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 13 16 9 17 55
Rainier Beach 23 12 23 31 89

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Kevin Porter Jr. Defending Eastside Catholic’s Inbound Pass

After a snow day on Monday that canceled most school, Tuesday night Eastside Catholic came to the Jamaal Crawford court at Rainier Beach with upset on their mind. Nearly a month ago they played the Vikings in a tight contest that Beach was able to hold on to win 71-66 1/9. Brock Mackenzie got 22 that night (15 in the 1st Qtr) and the team jumped out to a 24-18 lead. The Crusaders needed the junior to step up again as Rainier Beach is playing with the confidence of a team that has been to the 3A state championship game 5 years in a row and winning 4.

Eastside Catholic got up 6-2 early. Quick buckets from Malik Putney and O’Landa Baker, off Beach turnovers and a pair of Mackenzie free throws and the Crusaders looked to be off an running. Fred Roberson knocked down a 3 and would end with 10 in the quarter as the Vikings went on a 21-7 run and were up by 10, 23-13 after the first 8 minutes. Four Crusader 3’s in the second period, 2 from senior Michael Clemens, Baker and Mackenzie cut the lead to 6 points at half 35-29. Eastside poised to come out of the locker room and maybe get Rainier Beach on their heels. Brock Mackenzie knocked down a long 3 to cut the lead in half, but Kevin Porter Jr and Fred Roberson combined for 19 of the teams 23 points to put the game out of reach 58-38. The Crusaders Mackenzie hit 3 3’s in the quarter but those were the only field goals for Eastside Catholic. Kevin Porter Jr would add 11 4th quarter points and leave the game with 4:08 remaining with 31 points, 3 dunks, a pair of 3’s and 7-8 from the line. Roberson would finish with 18. Crusader junior Mackenzie would lead his team with 19, giving his all, fouling out with just over 3 minutes remaining. O’Landa Baker added 12, but Eastside Catholic could not keep pace with the Vikings, as they were out scored 31-17 in the final 8 minutes.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 89, Eastside Catholic 55.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Kevin Porter Jr.- 31 points

Eastside Catholic
Brock Mackenzie- 19 points

Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals

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Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 7th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Prep 17 15 11 6 49
West Seattle 16 7 16 14 53

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West Seattle Wildcats

With a trip to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday on the line and a chance to play the top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale, the West Seattle Wildcats who entered on an 8-game winning streak hosted the Seattle Prep Panthers on Tuesday night.

The guard battle between Aaron Nettles & Nate Pryor took center stage with both floor leaders trading buckets. Nettles buried a step back fadeaway triple at the first quarter buzzer to give Prep an early lead. This carried to halftime with Nic Lynch also making contributions down low.

Coach Fazio made the required adjustments at the break as West Seattle began to immediately chip away at the Panther lead in the third quarter. Pryor continued his torrid pace, but needed to rely on teammates down the stretch for clutch buckets. Jack Golgart & Cass Elliott buried some huge buckets from beyond the arc to give West Seattle a three point lead in the final minute. A defensive stop set up a series of free throws which allowed the Wildcats to push the lead out of reach and ultimately punch their ticket to the league championship semifinal.

The Final Score
West Seattle 53, Seattle Prep 49.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 21 points

Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles- 18 points

Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 7th 2017 Girls 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Cleveland 11 10 10 21 52
West Seattle 12 27 14 18 71

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West Seattle Wildcats

The nightcap at West Seattle featured the home West Seattle team and visiting Cleveland Eagles with the winner heading over to Hec Edmunson Pavilion at The University of Washington tomorrow to take on #2 seeded Rainier Beach.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the opening quarter with both teams battling playoff nerves. However, West Seattle put together a decisive second quarter which set up an 18 point lead by halftime. Kelsey Lenzie was lethal from the perimeter and Grace Sarver was scoring anyway she wanted to. Jazzeem Bethea tried to keep the Eagles in the game, but was it too late?

West Seattle’s dominance continued in the second half as airtight defense led to one fastbreak after another. In total, four Wildcats scored in double figures. On the other side, Giavanni Flowers put together a strong second half, but the damage was done. The young, talented West Seattle squad is moving on to the big show on Wednesday night at Alaska Airlines Arena at 3:30pm.

The Final Score
West Seattle 71, Cleveland 52.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Grace Sarver- 18 points

Cleveland
Jazzeem Bethea- 17 points

O’Dea Tops Prep on Senior Night

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O’Dea Tops Prep on Senior Night
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 3rd 2017 Boys 3A Metro
O’Dea High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Prep 10 20 22 18 70
O’Dea 20 12 25 16 73

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O’Dea Sophomore Noah Williams & Head Coach Jason Kerr

On the final night of regular season play, O’Dea hosted their Capitol Hill rival Seattle Prep on senior night to close out another great year of Metro League play leading into the postseason.

The back and forth affair started with a hot start by the home team with Noah Williams & Xavier Smith knocking down shots early and giving the Irish an early ten-point advantage. As the first half progressed, Prep’s floor general Aaron Nettles made his presence felt by beginning his three-point barrage and setting up his teammates with open looks to the cup. Trailing by a pair at halftime, could the Panthers get their bigs Collin Welp & Nic Lynch involved to head into the Metro League playoffs with a victory?

Prep emerged from the locker room on a mission as the visitors opened with an extended run primarily through deep shots from Nettles. In total, the senior guard knocked down a half-dozen from downtown as part of a game-high 27 points. However, O’Dea countered with Russell Whealdon as a deep threat and buried a four-pack from beyond the arc.

In the final minutes of regulation, the lead bounced back and forth several times with O’Dea taking a late lead on a tough Xavier Smith jumper in the paint. The lead grew to three after a Fighting Irish defensive stop and a pair of free throws. Seattle Prep called a timeout with a chance to draw up a play to push the game into overtime.

Nettles quickly received the ball on the baseline beyond the arc, his shot bounced of the side of the backboard back into control of Prep’s Kalu Stricklin who quickly returned the ball to Nettles for a final shot. At the buzzer, the ball glanced off the front rim and the Irish players met at mid-court with exuberance after surviving a full full-quarter effort.

The Final Score
O’Dea 73, Seattle Prep 70.

Top Performers:
O’Dea
Xavier Smith- 24 points

Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles- 27 points

Late Pryor Runner Seals Westside Win

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Late Pryor Runner Seals Westside Win
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 31st 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Cleveland High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 19 4 19 9 46
Cleveland 7 17 14 7 45

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West Seattle Wildcats

As the final week of league play begins, the West Seattle Wildcats ventured over to Cleveland HS to take on the Eagles for a clash of major playoff implications. The Cats are currently the 4th seed with a 10-3 league record looking to maintain their placement in standings. Meanwhile, Cleveland whose 9-4 record currently slates them at the sixth and final seed are seeking to fend off Eastside Catholic who are chasing them down in the last week of the regular season.

Before Cleveland could blink, they were trailing by a dozen with Wildcat floor general Nate Pryor involved in the early offensive production. However, the Eagles kicked into gear in the second quarter when C.J. Elleby found his stroke from all over the court as well as Fahad Sharif who started to connect from downtown. A late Eagle surge helped them take a 24-23 into the locker room.

As the second half progressed, Cleveland’s reliance on Elleby to control the offense grew and was countered with a strong output by senior forward Yusuf Mohamed who scored 10 second half points.

With mere minutes remaining, a strong take to the cup by Pryor resulted in a hard crash to the ground, which he was miraculously able to shrug off. Moments later, he drove down the lane for the go-ahead bucket with less than a minute to go.

Cleveland had 5 seconds to advance the ball down the court to take a potential game-winner by Yusuf had other plans as he ripped the ball loose and clutched the ball as the horn sounded. West Seattle hangs on for a critical one-point victory to retain their 4-spot in the standings.

The Final Score
West Seattle 46, Cleveland 45.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 16 points

Cleveland
C.J. Elleby- 23 points

Roy’s Raiders Remain Undefeated, Edge Alma Mater Garfield

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Roy’s Raiders Remain Undefeated, Edge Alma Mater Garfield
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 27th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Nathan Hale 11 23 19 16 69
Garfield 17 14 13 21 65

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Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

This was the game we’ve all waited patiently for.

The top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale led by Coach Brandon Roy returning to his old stomping ground…the place where he played high school hoops…to take on the Garfield Bulldogs in front of a national television audience.

Washington’s top two teams met in the Les Schwab Invitational on December 29th with Nathan Hale winning in convincing fashion 87-64 en route to winning the tournament.

Could Hale keep their perfect record intact and retain their position as the best in the country?

Garfield quickly showed they were ready for the challenge as the home team jumped out to an early lead thanks to quick buckets by senior leader Jaylen Nowell. The poise shown by the Bulldogs served them well and allowed for a six point lead after one quarter.

Hale bounced back with a strong second quarter where Michael Porter Jr. started to heat up scoring 9 and sharpshooter Freddy Brown III netting 8. The momentum shift gave the Raiders and 8 point lead at the break.

When play resumed, the points were at a premium and Garfield found themselves in a precarious position heading into the final eight minutes. Haskins was able to rally the troops and give the home team a legitimate shot to stay competitive until the final whistle.

With the clock Hale’s friend after another scoring spree by Porter Jr., Garfield was trailing by double digits with less than 3 to play. Nowell struck back with a 7 point run to cut the lead down to two possessions to get the gym rocking again. On the ensuing critical possession, Porter took the air out of the building with a turnaround fadeaway jumper which was promptly followed by Nowell’s fifth foul to put the game on ice.

Coach Roy was able to guide his team to executing the final moments of the game and walked away with yet another statement victory to a season that continues to unfold as one of the greatest in state history.

Nathan Hale leads the season series 2-0, but don’t count on tonight’s game as the last time these two teams tussle!

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 69, Garfield 65.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 34 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 20 points

METROSemis-Article

Knight Leads Lakeside in Neighborhood Battle with Rams

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Knight Leads Lakeside in Neighborhood Battle with Rams
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 24th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Lakeside High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Ingraham 12 5 3 20 40
Lakeside 6 12 19 25 62

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Tuesday night at Lakeside HS was a neighborhood affair with nearby Ingraham in the building for Metro League action.

The visiting Rams took advantage of their length in the defensive side of the floor early as Saxen Mitchell gave the Lions a big challenge in the paint. Mason Lyng drained a three at the first quarter buzzer to give his team a half-dozen lead after one.

However, the Lions responded with a strong second quarter by Max Knight who helped his team take a one point lead in the break 18-17.

Lakeside took control in the third quarter and never looked back. They outscored the Rams 19 to 3 heading into the final quarter thanks to contributions from Knight and sophomore Robert Breyer.

Despite a valiant effort to climb back in the ballgame from Ben Sutton who scored 9 tough points in the fourth frame, it wasn’t enough to cut into the Lakeside lead. When the dust settled, the home Lions walked away victorious.

The Final Score
Lakeside 62, Ingraham 40.

Top Performers:
Lakeside
Max Knight- 20 points

Ingraham
Ben Sutton- 15 points

Rainier Beach’s Balance Enough to Prevail Over Prep

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Rainier Beach’s Balance Enough to Prevail Over Prep
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 20th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Rainier Beach High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Preparatory 8 9 16 24 57
Rainier Beach 13 15 16 24 68

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Rainier Beach Junior Fred Roberson

Rainier Beach whose quest to defend their state title was met with another tough challenge on Friday night against Seattle Prep. Each team plenty of motivation for league placement to battle for the win on the line.

The guard matchup of Khalil Shabazz for Beach and Aaron Nettles of Prep was front and center in this game with Shabazz getting the upper hand early logging 14 points in the first half many of which a result of attacking the cup. Additionally, Tijohn Rodde and Fred Roberson made their presence felt on both ends of the floor helping their Viks squad take a double digit lead into the break.

The Prep Panthers returned to the floor eager to shave the Beach lead and put the ball in Nettles’ hands to make it happen. The senior point guard recorded 15 fourth quarter points for a game-high 22 and was joined by Kalu Stricklin in the second half rally.

Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed when Kevin Porter Jr. who was managing foul trouble throughout the contest connected on some pivotal possessions down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 68, Seattle Preparatory 57.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Fred Roberson- 14 points

Seattle Preparatory
Aaron Nettles- 22 points

West Seattle, Cleveland Prevail in Unity Hoops Showcase

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West Seattle, Cleveland Prevail in Unity Hoops Showcase
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 13th 2017 Boys 3A 5pm
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 15 14 6 18 53
Eastside Catholic 8 7 17 12 44
Friday- January 13th 2017 Boys 3A 7pm
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Cleveland 10 18 14 22 6 70
Franklin 16 11 18 19 4 68

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Cleveland & Franklin Battling For the Rebound at the End of Regulation

The 4th Annual Unity Hoops Showcase at Garfield High School featured a Metro League doubleheader starting with West Seattle taking on Eastside Catholic & the nightcap between Cleveland & Franklin.

West Seattle’s commitment to their gameplan which emphasized defensive intensity and precision offensive execution carried them to a sizable lead in the first half. The Wildcats kept Crusader sharpshooter Brock Mackenzie at bay while Yusuf Mohamed put his versatile scoring ability logging 10 of his game-high 16 in the first half.

Eastside Catholic stormed back in the third frame thanks Noah Springborn finding a groove from beyond the arc. Only leading by three heading into the final quarter, West Seattle relied on their trusty senior Nate Pryor to carry them to the finish line to the tune of a 53-44 victory.

Game two matched the Cleveland Eagles & Franklin Quakers both eager to pick up a crucial league win. The tandem of Marquan Williams and Maurice Bennett was hot out of the gates with electrifying ball handling by Williams and thunderous dunks by “Mo Buckets”. Cleveland relied on their leader C.J. Elleby to lead the charge including a pair of triples in the final moments of the first half to give the Eagles a one point leading heading into halftime.

The pace of play shifted into overdrive in the third quarter with the pace ramping up into the final frame of regulation which saw the Franklin guards attacking the rim with reckless abandon and the Eagles countering with transition buckets in bunches. Cleveland led by a pair in the final seconds of regulation. After coming up with the defensive rebound, instead of waiting to be fouled, they turned the ball over to Franklin in which Cejay Garrison Jr. was able to capitalize with a clutch bucket to tie the game and send the game into OT.

A pair of back-to-back buckets early in the extra period gave Cleveland the needed lift to come away with the win against a tough Quakers squad. This game was an appropriate ending to a great night of high school hoops at Garfield High School.

The Final Score
West Seattle 53, Eastside Catholic 44
Cleveland 70, Franklin 68

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 16 points

Cleveland
C.J. Elleby- 33 points

Garfield Storms Back in Second Half to Knock Off Beach

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Garfield Storms Back in Second Half to Knock Off Beach
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 13th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Rainier Beach 16 20 15 9 60
Garfield 8 12 26 18 64

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Garfield Senior Jaylen Nowell

There is no question that excitement is building about Metro League hoops as the season rolls on.

A capacity crowd at Garfield High School arrived hours before the much anticipated varsity boys matchup between Rainier Beach & the host Bulldogs. A critical league win which would figure strongly into playoff seeding was on the line for two of the top teams in the state.

Coach Bethea’s Vikings were ready to tackle the challenge head on as his team jumped out to a sizeable lead in the first two quarters. Khalil Shabazz’s jumper was lights out by logging 13 of his team high 19 points in the first half. Additionally, the Beach defense locked down the several lethal scoring options for the Bulldogs only allowing 20 first-half points, a tremendous effort by the defending champs. N’Keil Nelson was unfazed by the big stage of the game making big plays on both sides of the floor. Garfield senior leader Jaylen Nowell had a quiet first half, could the Viks continue to limit the Bulldog star’s productivity in the final two quarters?

The proverbial light switch flipped on for the home team in the third quarter as the Rainier Beach lead shrunk from sixteen to five heading into the final frame. Much of this was due to Nowell finding his groove logging 13 in the third frame. Could they carry the newly-found momentum into the final quarter?

Much like last Friday’s game against West Seattle, Garfield got a lift from Curtis Walker who knocked down a few crucial buckets in the closing minutes to grab the lead and send the home crowd into a frenzy. Daejon Davis played a big role especially in the defensive side of the floor to set up the key baskets down the stretch. Rainier Beach’s inability to match the Bulldogs in the final minute allowed the Garfield lead to reach four with mere seconds remaining. An errant last shot sailed wide and the home team was greeted by the Dog Pound on the court after surmounting a 16 point halftime lead!

This rivalry matchup served as a reminder that the spotlight on high school hoops in Seattle continues to shine brighter as league play heats up and the playoffs on the horizon!

The Final Score
Garfield 64, Rainier Beach 60.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 25 points

Rainier Beach
Khalil Shabazz- 19 points

Balanced Beach Attack Sinks Tough Battle Against Cru

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Balanced Beach Attack Sinks Tough Battle Against Cru
By Steve Dion

Monday- January 9th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Rainier Beach High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 22 9 11 22 66
Rainier Beach 18 19 12 22 71

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Rainier Beach Senior N’Keil Nelson

In a rare Monday night game in the Metro League, Rainier Beach hosted the Eastside Catholic Crusaders for to make up their regularly scheduled matchup that was postponed earlier this season. Given the current standings with Beach keeping pace at the top and the Cru jockeying for position in the middle of the pack, the stakes were high for this league clash.

The first quarter belonged to the Crusaders, specifically junior Brock Mackenzie who knocked down a flurry of buckets totaling 15 points in the first eight minutes. He would go on to lead all scorers with 28. Jorell Saterfield & N’Keil Nelson led the charge for the Viks in the first half logging eight apiece many of which set up nicely by Kevin Porter Jr. The home team led by 4 at the break.

As the second half progressed, it reached a critical moment when Porter was charged with his fourth personal foul. Could Eastside Catholic rally with the Beach star benched? O’landa Baker answered the call with a spree of slash and dash trips to the cup to give the Crusaders a chance down the stretch.

As the game reached the balance, Nelson took over as he’s done so many times and knocked down the tough buckets while the Crusaders came up empty on a few crucial possessions. The Vikings start their three game week on a good note as they will take on the Lakeside Lions tomorrow and then get set for a mammoth battle on Friday against Garfield.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 71, Eastside Catholic 66.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
N’Keil Nelson- 19 points

Eastside Catholic
Brock Mackenzie- 28 points

Garfield Fends Off Wildcats, Passes Tough Road Test

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Garfield Fends Off Wildcats, Passes Tough Road Test
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 6th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Garfield 16 9 14 16 55
West Seattle 6 17 9 18 50

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Garfield Junior Eddie Turner

Fresh off their trip to the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon last week, the Garfield Bulldogs took a short tour across the Spokane Street bridge to West Seattle to take on a sneaky West Seattle squad. Without star guard Jaylen Nowell, the Bulldogs were certain to have their hands full to pick up the road win.

Points were at a premium in this game for a pair of teams that typically register high scoring totals. The post presence of J’Raan Brooks was felt early as the junior for Garfield reached double digit in the points column before the break. Meanwhile, Nate Pryor shouldered the load for the home team by scoring 14 of his team’s 23 before the break.

When play resumed, Garfield was able to establish some breathing room thanks to a handful of heady plays by the crafty Curtis Walker who finished with 11 of his 15 in the second half. West Seattle was able to incorporate more weapons on offense like Abdullah Mohamed, Anthony Giomi, and Simon Harris, but Garfield held its ground and was able to retain its lead and keep pace at the top of the Metro League standings.

The Final Score
Garfield 55, West Seattle 50

Top Performers:
Garfield
J’raan Brooks- 16 points

West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 21 points

Porter Drops 52 in O’Dea Rout

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Porter Drops 52 in O’Dea Rout
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 3rd 2017 Boys 3A Metro
O'Dea High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
O'Dea 11 22 15 20 68
Nathan Hale 31 26 38 15 110

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Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

Fresh off their Les Schwab Invitational championship, top-ranked Nathan Hale returned to league play in 2017 to take on O’Dea. The packed gymnasium was brimming with anticipation to see the high-flying Raiders take on the reigning state runner-up.

In the opening moments, PJ Fuller started the high-scoring affair with a quick 7 points as part of a 31 point first quarter. The tenacious Hale defense matched their unstoppable attack forcing turnovers and setting up Michael Porter with some high-flying slams and pinpoint shooting. The 6’9 senior logged an impressive 52 points and 15 rebounds in the contest.

O’Dea battled until the final whistle despite being down big early on including strong efforts by talented sophomore Noah Williams who scored 28 tough points and Xavier Smith who tallied 21 in the game. When the dust settled, Hale rang in the new year with a dominant 42 point win.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 110, O’Dea 68.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 52 points, 15 rebounds

O’Dea
Noah Williams- 28 points

Cleveland Cruises Past Plainsmen in Semifinal Round

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Cleveland Cruises Past Plainsmen in Semifinal Round
By Steve Dion

Thursday- December 29th 2016 Boys Tournament of Champions Semifinal
Franklin High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Evergreen (Vancouver) 6 31 7 22 66
Cleveland 24 22 26 12 84

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Cleveland Junior Jahleel Breland

The defending Tournament of Champions champs Cleveland stood one game away from reaching the final round again with the Evergreen Plainsmen. The Eagles jumped out to a sizeable lead in the first half through opportunistic executing from airtight defense.

CJ Elleby and Fahad Sharif led the charge with 17 and 12 first half points respectively. However, the Plainsmen were able to cut the deficit before the break with Trey Ratcliff attacking the basket and willing his team to with 14 of a 31 point second quarter.

When play resumed, Cleveland found their groove again and put the ballgame out of reach heading into the final frame. Philip White and Jahleel Breland joined the scoring spree in the second half as the Eagles rolled to a 84-66 win. Can Jerry Petty lead his squad to back-to-back tournament wins?

The Final Score
Cleveland 84, Evergreen (Vancouver) 66.

Top Performers:
Cleveland
C.J. Elleby- 23 points

Evergreen (Vancouver)
Trey Ratcliff- 16 points

2017 Coach Interview
Franklin
Head Coach Craig Jackson

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Varsity Hoops Live Coach Interview
Franklin – Head Basketball Coach
Craig Jackson

Franklin Quakers Head Coach Craig Jackson is getting set to host the Tournament of Champions this week with local and visiting team set to square off. Listen as Coach Jackson gives details about the tournament and also talk about his Quakers squad in a very challenging Metro League!

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Franklin Head Coach Craig Jackson

To catch the complete interview with Franklin Coach Craig Jackson,
 simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

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Hoops Overview:
South Sound
Steve Dion & T.J. Cotterill

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League Overview presented by theFinalScore.TV

Steve Dion and T.J. Cotterill from the Tacoma News Tribune break down high school hoops in the South Sound this season. Which teams have made an early impact heading into the holiday break?

T.J. joins Steve to break down the top players, teams and the overall strength of Sound Sound hoops this year.

Listen to our South Sound Hoops Overview by clicking on the PLAY BUTTON below.

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Be sure to visit thenewstribune.com and follow TJ’s high school hoops coverage all season long!

 

Hoops Overview:
Evergreen League
Steve Dion & Daniel Hargrove

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League Preview presented by theFinalScore.TV

Listen to the Evergreen League Hoops Overview by clicking on play button below

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Evergreen League Hoops Overview with Daniel Hargrove from Fox 1490 KWOK

Hoops Overview: Evergreen League- Daniel Hargrove from Fox 1490 KWOK
12-22-16

Garfield Survives Late Run By Beamer

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Garfield Survives Late Run By Beamer
By Steve Dion

Thursday- December 22nd 2016 Girls 3A/4A Metro/NPSL
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Todd Beamer 10 8 17 22 57
Garfield 21 14 5 20 60

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Garfield Sophomore Samaiyah Tolliver

A Thursday night non-league showdown featured Garfield and Todd Beamer heading into a brief holiday break before the hoops season continues.

The Lady Bulldogs had the upper hand in an tempo-contest during the first half completing their buckets in transitions and closing quarters strong. Tamia Mobley recorded 11 of her 13 points in the first two quarters including a mid-range jumper at the halftime buzzer which put her team up by 17 heading into halftime. The Titans countered with strong post play by Darion Brown who led Todd Beamer with 19 in the ballgame. Would the Titans rally in the final two quarters of play?

Garfield whose intensity carried them in the early stages of the ballgame began to play into Beamer’s favor as the game progressed as the Titans forced turnovers and created fastbreak opportunities to cut the lead down to 5 heading into the final quarter of play.

Beamer’s run continued throughout the fourth until they cut Garfield’s lead down to a single point with 5:21 to play. Points were at a premium the rest of the way and Garfield led by a pair with under 30 tick on the clock. They were able to control the ball enough to force the requisite amount of free throw attempts to eventually dash Beamer’s hope of sneaking in a late win.

The Final Score
Garfield 60, Todd Beamer 57.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Samaiyah Tolliver- 14 points

Todd Beamer
Darion Brown- 19 points

2017 Coach Interview
Rainier Beach
Head Coach Mychal Ladd

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Varsity Hoops Live Coach Interview
Rainier Beach – Head Basketball Coach
Mychal Ladd

Mychal Ladd has turned the Lady Viks program around in a short period of time and Rainier Beach is off to another strong start this season as his team gets set for tournament play in San Diego during holiday break before league play heats back up. He talks about the keys to creating a well-rounded basketball program and how there is a new energy around the girls basketball at Rainier Beach High School. Have a listen!

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Rainier Beach Head Coach Mychal Ladd

To catch the complete interview with Rainier Beach Coach Mychal Ladd,
 simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Head Coach Interview – Keffrey Fazio (West Seattle)

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Varsity Hoops Live Coach Interview
West Seattle Wildcats – Head Basketball Coach
Keffrey Fazio

As we turn to holiday break in the early stages of the high school hoops season, Steve Dion catches up with West Seattle Head Coach Keffrey Fazio whose Wildcats squad is keeping pace in the tough Metro League. He discusses the identity of this year’s team and the culture of the basketball program over on California Avenue. Have a listen!

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West Seattle Head Coach Keffrey Fazio

To catch the complete interview with West Seattle Coach Keffrey Fazio,
 simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

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Rainier Beach Grinds Out Gritty Win Over West Seattle

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Rainier Beach Grinds Out Gritty Win Over West Seattle
By Steve Dion

Saturday- December 17th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 14 12 9 11 46
Rainier Beach 11 17 8 14 50

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Rainier Beach Senior Khalil Shabazz

The marquee Metro matchup Saturday night featured the defending champs Rainier Beach visiting the West Seattle Wildcats. Both teams entered the game with a 3-1 league record which meant the victor would take the league in the Sound division.

A defensive battle was the theme of the contest starting under the rim with Yusuf Mohamed patrolling the post for WS and was countered by the physical Nehemie Kabeya for Beach. Meanwhile Tyler Lenzie and Tijohn Rodde found the mark from beyond the arc and at the break, Rainier Beach led by a pair.

When play resumed, West Seattle started to inhibit the Beach attack even more than it was heading into the game with talented guard Kevin Porter Jr. not playing by putting the Viks in foul trouble. This curbed the Beach offense, but West Seattle failed to capitalize. In the closing minutes, West Seattle led by a single point.

As Rainier Beach has done for years, they executed down the stretch by earning trips to the free-throw line and knocking down their shots. Monte Britt and Fred Roberson both buried critical pairs from the charity stripe and a desperation shot by the Wildcats was not enough to extend the ballgame.

Another gutsy win by one of Washington’s premier basketball powerhouses.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 50, West Seattle 46.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Tijohn Rodde- 11 points

West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 12 points

Roosevelt’s Fourth-Quarter Burst Sinks Franklin

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Roosevelt’s Fourth Quarter Burst Sinks Franklin
By Steve Dion

Friday- December 16th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Roosevelt High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Franklin 17 18 21 12 68
Roosevelt 19 22 15 24 80

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Roosevelt Rough Riders

In the final Friday night of hoops season before holiday break, a key Metro League matchup featured a Franklin team off to a 5-1 start and Roosevelt looking to keep pace in the standings.

The teams traded buckets in the first half of play with neither team able to gain a significant edge. Correy Garrison Jr. showed some razzle-dazzle ball handling feeding leading scorer Maurice Barnett. The guard/wing combo kept the Quakers within striking distance as Marquan Williams faced early foul trouble. The Rough Riders countered with efficient half court executing including several Clayton Moore buckets and spectacular free throw shooting. The home team led 41-35 at the break.

When play resumed, Franklin increased their defensive pressure and the effort led to another string of Barnett baskets. Heading into the final frame, the score was deadlocked at 56 apiece.

Roosevelt attacked the rim in the final frame and earned numerous trips to the charity stripe where they were an astonishing 29/31 in the ballgame. Franklin ran out of gas and so did the lights in the Roosevelt gym as a blackout took place with under a minute to play. After a 15 minute delay, both teams returned to the floor to finish the ballgame, a solid win for Roosevelt at an opportune time.

The Final Score
Roosevelt 80, Franklin 68.

Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Nick Blume- 17 points

Franklin
Maurice Barnett- 27 points

Garfield’s Nowell Leads Charge Past Prep

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Garfield’s Nowell Leads Charge Past Prep
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- December 13th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Preparatory 13 13 22 15 60
Garfield 19 26 29 16 90

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Garfield Sophomore Jamon Kemp

In the final week before holiday break, the Garfield Bulldogs and Seattle Prep Panthers squared off for a Capitol Hill showdown. The guard-strong Bulldogs and post-laden Panthers showcased their strengths early as Jaylen Nowell scored 15 of his game-high 25 in the first half while Nic Lynch anchored Prep with 11 in the first two quarters.

The double digit lead accrued in the first half by Garfield continued to grow in the third quarter highighted by a flurry of steals leading to dunks including an alley-oop slam by J’Raan Brooks who scored 19 for the Bulldogs. Kalu Stricklin continued to battle for Seattle Prep even with the game out of hand recording 15 tough points in the second half.

When the clock hit triple zeros, Garfield picked up their fourth win to continue a perfect start to the season handing Seattle Prep their first loss of the season.

The Final Score
Garfield 90, Seattle Prep 63.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 25 points

Seattle Preparatory
Kalu Stricklin & Nic Lynch-19 points

Post-Game Interview with Nathan Hale Head Coach Brandon Roy 12/9/16

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Varsity Hoops Live Post-Game Coach Interview
Nathan Hale Raiders – Head Basketball Coach
Brandon Roy

Following Friday night’s big win for Nathan Hale, Dick Fain catches up with Brandon Roy to talk about his thoughts on the matchup and the outlook for his team this season.

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To catch the complete post-game interview with Nathan Hale Coach Brandon Roy,
 simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Hale Outlasts Beach in Early Season Showcase

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Hale Outlasts Beach in Early Season Showcase
By Steve Dion

Friday- December 9th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Nathan Hale High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Rainier Beach 15 10 16 20 61
Nathan Hale 17 17 17 23 74

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Nathan Hale Sophomore PJ Fuller

If tonight was a taste of what’s to come this Metro League season, we’re all in for a real treat as a capacity crowd filled the Nathan Hale gym to see the defending champion Rainier Beach Vikings take on the host Raiders.

The frenetic pace of play was present wire-to-wire with Hale leading the majority of the contest. Early foul trouble for Jontay Porter forced Coach Brandon Roy to keep the talented junior on the bench accordingly leaving older brother Michael to pick up the slack en route to his game-high 35 points. Meanwhile the supporting cast of Hale including PJ Fuller and Keegan Crosby recorded 9 & 12 respectively.

The Vikings trailed the majority of the ballgame, but a few second-half spurts made the contest interesting until the final minutes when Hale pulled away. Kevin Porter led RB with 14 tough points while being blanketed all game long. Also in double figures were Jorell Soterfield and N’Keil Nelson who scored 10 and 11 apiece. Some missed opportunities near the rim for the defending champs hindered their ability to pull out a big road victory, but they’ll certainly reload and likely give Nathan Hale a tough test on a bigger stage down the stretch.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 74, Rainier Beach 61.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 35 points

Rainier Beach
Kevin Porter Jr.-14 points

Camas Wins First Ever 4A State Title

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Saturday Dec 3rd 2016 4A Final Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Camas 7 3 7 7 24
Richland 0 7 7 0 14

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See game recap below
 

Camas Wins First Ever 4A State Title
By Colin Caruso

The weight is finally off coach Jon Eagle’s shoulders. After suffering one of the worst losses in Washington state football history in 2013 to Chiawanna, coach Eagle brought his Papermakers back to the state final and this time prevailed over the previously undefeated Richland Bombers.

Camas started the game on a tear. A seven play 61-yard drive capped off by a Jack Colletto pass to Cooper McNatt gave the Papermakers an early 7-0 lead.

The scoring stalled all the way until one minute remaining in the first half, when Richland finally broke free on a Ben Stanfield run to tie the game at seven. Camas was able to put together a two-minute drill type drive to get into field goal range, and kicker Michael Boyle knocked in a 34 yarder despite a fumbled snap and hold.

The Bombers received the kick in the second half and stormed down the field to take their first lead of the game, 14-10. Camas was not phased, and responded with their own 80-yard drive for a touchdown, to regain the lead 17-14.

The defenses tightened up in the fourth quarter, with red zone trips from both teams ending in on failed fourth down conversions. With three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Colletto stepped up to the plate again for the Bombers and rumbled 34 yards for the sealing touchdown. He added an interception in the final minutes, and Camas held on to win the biggest game in their school’s history.

The Final Score:
Camas 24, Richland 14.

Top Performer:
Camas
Jack Colletto – 2 total touchdowns, 1 defensive interception.

The Attrition War, Neah Bay Wins 1B Championship

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Saturday Dec 3rd 2016 1B Final Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Neah Bay 6 28 16 14 64
Odessa-Harrington 0 14 6 14 34

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See game recap below
 

The Attrition War, Neah Bay Wins 1B Championship
By Colin Caruso

Neah Bay, in their third state final in the last four years, faced off against an undefeated and incredibly dominate Odessa-Harrington Titans team in the 1B Washington state championship. The Titans had put up over 70 points in six games this season, topping 90 in two of those contests. The scores they put up in 8 on 8 football are some of the highest seen, but this did not scare the Red Devils of Neah Bay.

Neah Bay jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead and a dominate 34-14 halftime lead against an undermanned Titans lineup. With right around 20 suited players, the Titans faced an uphill battle from the beginning. Neah Bay represents well for a 1B school, and their depth paid dividends throughout this matchup.

Neah Bay extended their halftime lead throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters, with Cameron Buzzell averaging 21 yards per carry on his 8 touches, totally 168 yards and 3 scores. He was too much for the Odessa-Harrington defense, who gave up 498 yards in the game.
As the Red Devils extended their lead, their confidence continued to grow. Their 303 yards on the ground paid dividends to their limited passing attack, but brought the safety up for deep passes and long conversions.

Neah Bay and coach Tony McCaulley went on to capture another state title, with a final score of 64-34.

The Final Score:
Neah Bay 64, Odessa-Harrington 34.

Top Performer:
Neah Bay
Cameron Buzzell – 4 touchdowns.

Archbishop Murphy Dominates Throughout Season, Wins 2A State Championship

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Saturday Dec 3rd 2016 2A Final Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Archbishop Murphy 21 14 14 7 56
Liberty (Issaquah) 0 7 0 7 14

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See game recap below
 

Archbishop Murphy Dominates Throughout Season, Wins 2A State Championship
By Colin Caruso

In a year that saw just nine games played for arguably Washington’s best high school football program, the Archbishop Murphy Wildcats put the stamp on the season in cruising to a 56-14 win in the state finals over the Liberty (Issaquah) Patriots.

The story from Archbishop Murphy’s program this year came in the way of forfeits. Five of their 14 total games were decided without either team stepping on the field, with four consecutive forfeit wins in late August and early September. They went game-less for over a month because their opposition refused to play in fear of injury and demolition. But this didn’t slow the Wildcats down.

During the regular season, Archbishop Murphy gave up a total of 6 points. The Patriots put up an astounding 14 in the final. Kudos to Liberty for never giving up for the full 48 minutes, but this game was over after the first quarter.

Quarterback Connor Johnson threw three touchdowns in the first half, and Collin Montez ran for another two, putting the halftime score at 35-7. Connor Johnson would throw for two more touchdowns early in the third, pushing the total to 49-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

For Liberty, an undefeated season ended against a team that five teams refused to play. For Archbishop Murphy, the season ended similarly to the way it started, with a blowout win. Congratulations to both teams, and especially to the Wildcats for capturing their first state title in the 2A classification.

The Final Score:
Archbishop Murphy 56, Liberty (Issaquah) 14.

Top Performer:
Archbishop Murphy
Connor Johnson – 5 passing touchdowns.

Back to Back 1A State Championships for Royal

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Saturday Dec 3rd 2016 1A Final Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Connell 10 0 0 0 10
Royal 7 3 15 0 25

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See game recap below
 

Back to Back 1A State Championships for Royal
By Colin Caruso

Five time state champion coach Wiley Allred had his Royal Knights rearing to battle in the 1A state final against the talented Connell Eagles. In their first matchup of the year, Royal squeezed past the Eagles 28-21 in Connell. This time, the stage was set in Tacoma for the biggest game of the year.

Connell came out of the gates on fire, putting together a 7 play, 70-yard drive capped off by a 31-yard TD pass from Brian Hawkins to Steven Kroontje. Royal was ready to respond, putting together their own 3 play dazzling drive that ended in a 62-yard TD pass from Knights QB Kaden Jenks, one of his three total scores of the game. Connell added a field goal late in the first to take a 10-7 lead into the second frame, unbeknownst to the Eagles that this would be their last points in the game.

Royal responded in the second quarter with a field goal of their own to send the game into half tied at 10. Allred clearly had an invigorating halftime speech, as his Knights put up 15 points in the third quarter, on a pass and a run from Jenks, a Weber State commit. He was the story all day long; big hits from the safety position on defense and perfect throws and powerful runs from the quarterback position.

The 15 points in the third quarter pushed the score to 25-10, and that was enough to capture the crown. In a game of well-matched clubs, the Knights prevailed and took home the 1A state crown. Congratulations to Royal High School!

The Final Score:
Connell 10, Royal 25.

Top Performer:
Royal
Kaden Jenks – 3 Total TDs.