Garfield Defuses Bombers, Wins 4A Boys State Title

Garfield Defuses Bombers, Wins 4A Boys State Title
By Colin Caruso

To kick off finals action in the Tacoma Dome, the undefeated Bombers from Richland took on the one loss Bulldogs from Garfield. Both teams were well deserved to be battling for the coveted state championship trophy, and the Tacoma Dome was packed and ready for action.

Richland started the game on fire, jumping out to a quick 14-4 lead. Garfield seemed shell shocked to start, as Richland seemingly couldn’t miss. But Garfield guard Tramaine Isabell wasn’t going to let this one slip away like last season. Isabell led his then Lakeside Lion team to the state final last year, coming up just short of beating the Rainier Beach Vikings for the 3A title. He was, as usual, unstoppable in this one. 22 of his game high 34 came in the first half and Garfield took a five point lead into the second half.

The third quarter remained close, neither team pulled further than five points ahead. Isabell continued his scoring barrage, putting up another eight points in the third to put his total at 30 going into the fourth. Four Bombers reached double figures in the quarter, a brilliant balanced attack from the boys from Richland. Starting big man Brayon Blake for the Bulldogs picked up his fourth personal, putting him in foul trouble in back to back games.

Garfield pulled ahead by as much as seven in the early stages of the fourth. Steven Beo answered by knocking down another three for the Bombers and Payton Radliffe hit a goal tended layup to cut the lead Bulldog lead to just two.

Jashaun Agosto answered with a deep two for the Bulldogs with three minutes left to take the lead by four. But the Bombers were not done. Beo and Jacob DeVries hit back to back buckets in the lane to tie the game at 58 with two minutes to play. On the ensuing possession, Baker was fouled on a layup for the Bulldogs and knocked down both at the line to go up by two. After a Bomber turnover, Isabell was fouled and made both free-throws, the lead now four. Another Bomber turnover led to a leakout basket by Deshaun Tucker, a six point lead now for the Dogs.

A Bulldog foul led to one free-throw for Streufert, and the Bombers were forced to foul Isabell with 22 seconds left; he hit one of two to take a six point lead. Beo was fouled on the other end and missed the front end, where Blake pulled down the rebound and was fouled and made two more for the Dogs, who took the lead 67-59 with under 12 seconds to play. The Bulldogs added one more late free-throw, and won the state title by a final of 68-59. An amazing game with an amazing atmosphere!

Top Performers:
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 34 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
Brayon Blake – 12 points, 7 rebounds

Richland
Steven Beo – 22 points, 11 rebounds
Payton Radliff – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks