Seattle Prep explodes in the second half, advances to regionals

Seattle Prep explodes in the second half, advances to regionals
By Colin Caruso

In this loser out, winner to regional game, the Seattle Prep Panthers matched up against the Eastside Catholic Crusaders.  The electricity in the gym picked up in the first quarter, and Eastside responded with an early 16-7 lead.  Sophomore Mandrell Worthy led all scorers with eight points in the quarter and converted twice on and-ones.

Back to back threes for Panther sophomore Jack Stewart and eight straight points from senior DJ Fenner sprang Prep into the lead 21-18 in the second.  Eastside responded with five straight points from senior Austin Soukup, but Fenner was too much for the Crusaders in the quarter, finishing with 12 points.  Prep led 25-23 at the half.

The Prep offense exploded coming out of the locker room.  Six Panthers scored in the third, led by Stewart who had nine of the team’s 25.  Eastside could not find a way to stop the Panthers defensively, and Prep took a 14 point lead into the fourth.

The hoop resembled the Pacific Ocean for the Panthers in the fourth.  Fenner poured in another 12 points, which led the Panthers to a 22 point quarter.  Worthy for the Crusaders did his best to match, putting up eight in the final frame for Eastside.  But the game was in Prep’s hands by this point, and the Panthers ended the Crusader season with a 72-50 win.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
DJ Fenner (33 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks)
Jack Stewart (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals)
Laurence Hicks (8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals)

Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy (21 points, 8 rebounds)
Austin Soukup (15 points)
Max Hudgins (10 points, 2 steals)