Garfield Storms Back in Second Half to Knock Off Beach

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

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