Eastside Catholic Fends Off Skyview in Memorial Classic Finish

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Steven Dion

Saturday	Sep 10th	2016	4A/3A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Skyview	7	0	9	0	16
Eastside Catholic	7	10	0	14	31

See game recap below

Eastside Catholic Fends Off Skyview in Memorial Classic Finish
By Steve Dion

The 3rd Annual Memorial Classic concluded with a dandy of a matchup between two of the top teams in the state: defending back-to-back 3A champs Eastside Catholic and 4A up-and-comer Skyview from Vancouver. Could the Storm end the in-state win streak held by the Crusaders which dates back to 2014?

Eastside opened the scoring on a roll-out by Ze’Shaun Lewis who found his favorite target Hunter Bryant dashing toward the endzone. Bryant was forced to sit the majority of the contest after getting banged-up on a kickoff shortly thereafter. Hayden Froeber responsed with a four yard punch-in to tie the game back up.

The second frame was big for the Crusaders who tacked on ten more points courtesy of a Chris Lefau touchdown and Ben Petersen field goal. Could the Storm rally in the second half?

Skyview answered the call in similar fashion when Tavis Chunphakvenn-Pinkney broke multiple tackles to find pay dirt and swing the momentum back in the Storm’s favor. The fate of the game was in the balance heading into the final frame with EC up by a single point at 17-16.

Thielbahr’s Cru responded with one of their pillars of success over the past few seasons which is ‘Finish’. Tyler Folkes put Eastside up by eight on a goal line blast early in the fourth which set preceded a Lewis pass to Gee Scott moments later to put the nail in the coffin. Skyview put up a tremendous fight, but Eastside’s composure was an impressive display of their continued success.

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 31, Skyview 16.

Top Performer

Eastside Catholic
Ze’Shaun Lewis- 2 passing TDs (18,42)

Skyview
Tavis Chunphakvenn-Pinkney- 8 yard receiving TD

Coach Kohler Earns 300th Career Victory as O’Dea Downs Shelton in Memorial Classic

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sep 9th	2016	3A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Shelton	0	6	0	0	6
O'Dea	0	17	21	7	45

See game recap below

Coach Kohler Earns 300th Career Victory as O’Dea Downs Shelton in Memorial Classic
By Steve Dion

The Friday nightcap of the Memorial Classic matched the Shelton High Climbers of the newly created South Sound Conference against O’Dea whose legendary Coach Monte Kohler entered with a chance to cross a significant milestone which is 300 career wins as head coach of the Irish.

A slow start for both teams was the result of tight defense and erratic passing attempts from each offense. O’Dea struck first when their staunch offensive line opened a massive running lane for Parker D’Anna allowing the junior tailback to glide to the endzone. Minutes later, Connor Gregoire benefited from the same treatment for a touchdown of his own adding to O’Dea’s lead. Shelton recorded six before the break, but had an uphill battle in the second half.

The second half can be simply classified as ‘The Hunter Franco Show’ as the senior running back busted loose three times for long touchdown runs of 47, 51, & 44 yards respectively. This outburst proved too much for the Climbers when paired with the Irish defense clamping down in the final two quarters without allowing Shelton to score. At the end of the night, O’Dea moves to 2-0 and Coach Kohler earns win number 300 of his legendary coaching tenure.

The Final Score:
O’Dea 45, Shelton 7.

Top Performer

O’Dea

Hunter Franco- 3 TDs (44, 47, 51)

Crusaders Defense Stymies Bullpups in Battle of Champions

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sep 2nd	2016	4A/3A	Boys	Football
Eastside Catholic Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Gonzaga Prep	7	0	0	0	7
Eastside Catholic	14	0	7	0	21

See game recap below

Crusaders Defense Stymies Bullpups in Battle of Champions
By Steve Dion

Week one of the 2016 high school football season placed a pair of undefeated teams from last year on the same field to determine supremacy between the 3A and 4A classifications. Gonzaga Prep who claimed the 4A title over Skyline headed west to take on the Eastside Catholic Crusaders who are back-to-back 3A champs.

The new-look Crusader offense led by Ze’Shaun Lewis who coach Jeremy Thielbahr said he is very confident in on our interview earlier in the week opened the scoring early when he found scat-back Tyler Folkes up the seam from 12 yards out.

Dave McKenna who talked about his smash-mouth style of football in our exclusive game week interview demonstrated such by pounding the rock against the EC defense all night. Kasey Anthony evened the score with a 8 yard dash to the goal line.

Before halftime, Eastside found the endzone once more, a 7 yard strike from Lewis to Aiden Hector giving the home team a one-score leading heading into the locker room.

As the game wore on and Prep struggled to create big gains on offense, EC’s defense clamped down even more. Chris Lefau anchored a staunch front seven that kept the Bullpups of the scoreboard for the final three quarters of the game.

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 21, Gonzaga Prep 7.

Top Performer

Eastside Catholic
Tyler Folkes-2 receiving TDs (18, 23)

Gonzaga Prep
Kasey Anthony-8 yard rushing TD

Audio Recap: SeaKing- Lakeside vs. Juanita

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Steven Dion

Game Recap
SeaKing- Lakeside vs. Juanita 2-19-16

Lakeside Lions

A back-and-forth battle between the Lakeside Lions and Juanita rebels allowed one team to advance to a must-win district game set for Saturday. Listen as Nic Beckman provides a game recap including post-game comments from Lakeside head coach Patrick Chinn!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Spiller and King Propel Lakeside Past Juanita in District Playoff

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Steven Dion

Spiller and King Propel Lakeside Past Juanita in District Playoff
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 19th	2016	Girls	3A	SeaKing
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Juanita	18	11	19	8	56
Lakeside	13	1	14	15	57

Lakeside senior Kallin Spiller

In a topsy-turvy elimination game on Friday between Lakeside and Juanita, a late momentum swing sparked by Kallin Spiller and Kimijah King propelled the Lions to a dramatic victory.

Junior Tea Adams carried the bulk of the Rebels offensive production netting a game-high 24 points, many of which scored in transition. Shalexxus Aaron added a dozen as well in addition to a major role in the paint pulling down key rebounds. A three-pointer at the halftime buzzer by Lakeside’s Kelly Keen cut the Juanita lead to a single point heading into the break.

Trailing by six with less than three minutes remaining, the Lions were on the ropes and needed spark. Kallin Spiller buries a critical three point to cut the deficit to one possession. Lakeside followed up the bucket with defensive stops to set up Kimijah King with a pair of buckets to take the lead with less than a minute remaining. Juanita was unable to knock down its contested desperation shot from the corner at the buzzer. The Lions bench sprung from their chairs with excitement after a come-from-behind victory by a single point. Afterward Lions Head Coach Patrick Chinn talked the mentality heading into the game stating, “If we lose, the team is better than us. We’re trying not to beat ourselves. We’re trying to make enough plays to get out of there.”

The win keeps Lakeside alive for another day as they await their matchup for the fifth-place seeding game with the next opponent set to be the winner of Rainier Beach and Roosevelt.

The Final Score
Lakeside 57, Juanita 56.

Top Performers:

Lakeside
Kimijah King- 21 points
Kallin Spiller- 17 points

Juanita
Tea Adams- 24 points

Varsity Hoops Live – Steve Dion – 3A SeaKing

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Steven Dion

Varsity Hoops Live Game Recaps- 3A SeaKing

Listen to Steve Dion’s game recaps by clicking on play button below

Game Recap 2/19: Steve Dion from theFinalScore.TV
2-19-16

Crusaders Capture Metro Title, Primed for Postseason Run

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Oct 30th	2015	3A Metro	Boys	Football
Leon H. Brigham Field at Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	12	28	0	0	40
Ballard	0	0	0	3	3

See game recap below

Crusaders Capture Metro Title, Primed for Postseason Run
By Steve Dion

The final week of the regular season coincidentally pitted the top two Metro League teams in Eastside Catholic and Ballard for the city championship. For Jeremy Thielbahr and his high-flying Crusaders, this is just step one for a program designed to make another state title run. For Joey Thomas and Ballard, this game served as an opportunity to show how far the Beavers have progressed in a short period of time. Ballard has won as many games in 2015 as they did in the previous two seasons combined. The deck was stacked against the Beavs to go toe to toe with Eastside Catholic, how would they approach the challenge?

Like many opening drives for Eastside Catholic, the result was a touchdown. However, this was a drive that ate up nearly six minutes and pushed the Cru offense to convert on long yardage third and fourth downs. A long pass from Harley Kirsch to Hunter Bryant set up Brandon Wellington for a 3 yard score. The response drive by BHS was stalled at midfield forcing a punt which was not struck well. The short field for ECHS simply allowed them to score their second touchdown faster as Devon Arbis-Jackson hauled in a reception near midfield on a crossing route and took it 65 yards to the house. Ballard was walking on a tight rope at this point. The Beavs were moving up the field with chunks of yardage eaten up by Davine Tullis and Antoine Patton. Unfortunately, the possession took a turn when the ball was coughed up and taken 60 yards the other way by Malik Putney leading to a Tyler Folkes touchdown. The rout was on. By halftime the scoreboard read 40-0.

Joey Thomas deserves a great deal of credit for rallying his team at halftime facing an insurmountable deficit. Ballard would win the second half by preventing the Crusaders from adding to their point total albeit against the depth chart of Eastside Catholic. This game would not be a shutout as Jack Dineen punched a field goal through the uprights in the fourth quarter. With the win, Eastside Catholic demonstrates they have gas in the tank which will propel them in November and likely December. For Ballard, they will also be a postseason team with the experience of facing the state’s finest.

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 40, Ballard 3

Eastside Catholic Remains Unscathed, Tops Blanchet on Senior Night

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Oct 9th	2015	3A	Boys	Football
Acosta Field	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	14	21	13	6	54
Bishop Blanchet	6	0	0	0	6

See game recap below

Eastside Catholic Remains Unscathed, Tops Blanchet on Senior Night
By Steve Dion

First year coach of Bishop Blanchet Kyle Moore led his team to one of the biggest wins in program history in week five of the 2015 campaign as they knocked off O’Dea for the first time in over two decades. The Braves were rewarded by putting their 5-0 record on the line against the top team in the state Eastside Catholic at Acosta Field on the plateau. Coach Thielbahr’s Crusaders are firing on all cylinders in the state championship title defense season. Two teams entered the contest undefeated, which record would remain intact?

The home team put their offense on the field following a quick defensive stop and turned the possession into a score by Devon Arbis-Jackson in which the senior wideout shed multiple tackles. The critical drive following this Cru touchdown was highly successful for Blanchet as Alex Freeman marched his team down the field and O’Shea Trujillo closed the deal by crossing the goal line shortly after BBHS converted on a 4th and 21. Minutes later, Harley Kirsch found himself in the endzone after a 4-yard quarterback sneak to put ECHS up by 8. The Crusader defense started to clamp down on the green and yellow clad Braves as linebacker Noah Failauga among others controlled the middle of the field. A 62 yard punt return for touchdown by captain Jonathan Webster extended the Eastside Catholic lead and the blowout was starting to take form.

Missed opportunities for Blanchet such as not recovering a fumble forced on their 1 yard line played into their inability to keep pace with the state champs. Trailing 35-6 at the break, the fate of the game was virtually sealed as Kirsch and Co. entered halftime on a 6-yard touchdown run at the buzzer.

The lopsided matchup continued into the second half as the home squad would log 19 more points for a total of 54. What’s more is the Crusader defense disallowed any second half points for Blanchet. With the win, EC will likely run the table in league play with bigger goals in mind during late November and early December. Blanchet will retain its position in the second tier of Metro and fight for seeding once postseason play begins.

The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 54 Bishop Blanchet 6

Blanchet Ends 22-Year Winless Streak to O’Dea in Comeback Fashion

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Oct. 2	2015	3A	Boys	Football
Bishop Blanchet High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bishop Blanchet	7	0	0	26	33
O'Dea	0	14	7	0	21

Blanchet Ends 22-Year Winless Streak to O’Dea in Comeback Fashion
By Steve Dion

All good things come to an end. For the O’Dea Fighting Irish, their 22-year streak of victories against league opponent Bishop Blanchet did just that Friday night. A large crowd amassed at BBHS to see two undefeated Metro teams battle to maintain a blemish-free record. The home crowd would be rewarded for staying a full four quarters.

BBHS nearly scored early in the game as quarterback Alex Freeman was approaching the endzone coughed up the ball and was smothered by an O’Dea defender for a touchback. However, the defense held strong for first-year Braves Head Coach Kyle Moore. Freeman was able to avenge the early turnover when he connected with Jamiek Satterwhite for a 17 yard strike. O’Dea woke up after that score as their quarterback Nathan West’s nerves appeared to settle down. He matched Blanchet’s touchdown with a 17 yard dart to Sam Sanchez and followed that up with a 21 yard pass to Race Porter following a Blanchet fumble. The Irish carried a 14-7 lead into the half.

An interesting coaching decision that proved successful for the Braves was staying on the field during the intermission. It appeared that Blanchet’s players were gassed and Moore chose to refrain from making his team schlep down the hill into the team locker room.
This payed dividends early as a renewed sense of green and gold energy resulted in an interception by Ryan Howard. Unfortunately, the offense stalled and were forced to give the ball back up. Monte Kohler’s troops responded with a sustained drive that culminated with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by West which was set up by multiple strong runs by tailback Hunter Franco. That would be the Fighting Irish’s last points of the game.

The Braves began their improbable rally by finding the endzone to bring it back within a score. They would then recover a pair of onside kicks and fumble recovery for touchdown. But a lead was not enough. After taking over with a six minutes remaining, the Braves tacked on another touchdown for good measure to secure a 34-21 victory and end to a streak older than any player on the field!

The Final Score: Bishop Blanchet 33 O’Dea 21

Garfield Ends Rainier Beach’s Reign

Posted on March 10, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Garfield Ends Rainier Beach’s Reign
By Colin Caruso

Saturday March 7	2015	Boys	3A	State Final
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	11	15	18	22	66
Rainier Beach	12	14	15	10	51

Garfield Bulldogs

In a rematch of the Metro championship game, and a matchup of the two best teams in the state of Washington, the stage was set in Tacoma to watch the athleticism unfold between Rainier Beach and Garfield. Both inter-city Seattle schools, both defending state champions (Garfield won 4A last year) with the coveted 3A crown to take home.

The game began with a frantic pace, as it always does with these two teams. Beach got off to a quick lead behind eight first quarter points from star De’Jounte Murray. But the Bulldogs responded on the back of Jaylen Nowell, a sophomore star who responded with seven in the first.

Neither team slowed down in the second quarter; the pace remained at the highest level of the tournament. Even with the extremely fast pace both teams took care of the ball quite well, not allowing the opposition to get easy buckets in transition. Both defenses held firm, and the halftime score was tied at 26.

The Tacoma Dome was electric to start the second half. Neither team was able to pull away in the third quarter, but Garfield appeared to have more control going into the fourth.

After a back and forth third, Garfield held a 44-41 lead entering the final frame.
Shadeed Shabazz started the quarter hot for the Vikings, converting on two straight layups in under 30 seconds to take a one point lead. The teams exchanged baskets, and Garfield continued to attack the basket, getting into the bonus, and knocking down their free throws. With three minutes to play, the Bulldogs held a five point lead.

De’Jounte Murray responded with a beautiful reverse layup, but the Bulldogs answered with a put back layup by Jaylen Nowell. After a Rainier Beach miss, Austin Anderson for the Bulldogs knocked down two more from the line to take a seven point lead, the largest of the game for either team. From there, the Bulldog floodgates opened, ending the game on a 17-2 run.

Congratulations to Garfield, the back to back state champions! This Garfield win ended a Rainier Beach run of three consecutive 3A boys state titles.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Jaylen Nowell – 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
Alphonso Anderson – 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks

Rainier Beach
Shadeed Shabazz – 22 points
De’Jounte Murray – 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Beach Cruises to Another State Final

Posted on March 7, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Beach Cruises to Another State Final
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 7th	2015	Boys	3A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	22	4	13	22	61
Eastside Catholic	10	7	10	6	33

Rainier Beach Senior Dejounte Murray

The big question most coaches ask when facing the back, to back, to back, state champs, “What can we do to stop them?” Coach Bill Liley and his Eastside Catholic Crusaders were faced with that question on Friday night in the Tacoma Dome.

The Crusaders fell to the mighty Rainier Beach Vikings twice during the regular season, both times by double digits. The goal of this contest was to keep Rainier Beach out of transition, force a half-court game, and knock down shots.

Unfortunately for the Crusaders, they were unable to keep Beach out of transition, and struggled from the perimeter. Rainier Beach took a 22-10 lead into the second, backed by an emphatic De’Jounte Murray alley-oop slam.

Rainier Beach failed to score for the first six minutes of the second quarter. This obviously played into the Crusaders hands, who started the quarter on a 7-0 run. In a low scoring second, Beach took a 26-17 lead into the break.

With the first six points in the third quarter, the Crusaders turned this into anybody’s game. Down just three, Eastside had the momentum and the Vikings struggles from the floor did not subside. But the shooting woes that plagued the Vikings transferred to the Crusaders, and they finished the third quarter with just 27 points.

Beach rolled in the fourth. Ivy Smith and Shadeed Shabazz began to knock down jumpers for the Vikings, as they extended their lead to as many as 28. Rainier Beach won the game 61-33, finishing the game on a 16-2 run. They will face off against the Bulldogs of Garfield for the 3A state title.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
De’Jounte Murray – 16 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals

Garfield’s Big First Half Leads to Win Over Seattle Prep

Posted on March 7, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Garfield’s Big First Half Leads to Win Over Seattle Prep
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 7th	2015	Boys	3A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Prep	17	13	17	13	60
Garfield	25	21	7	11	64

Garfield Bulldogs

Coaches will always tell you it is difficult to beat a team three times. The fate of the Bulldogs lay in those circumstances Friday night, as the final four teams in 3A boys all came from the same league, the Seattle Metro league.

This matchup is distinctly size versus speed. The Panthers start three players over 6 foot 7 and the Bulldogs don’t have a single player above 6 foot 6. But speed has prevailed in their previous matchups, with the Bulldogs controlling the pace and the game.

The speedy Bulldogs set the pace early, amassing 19 points to the Panthers nine in under five minutes of play. But back to back threes by the Panthers put them right back in the game. Garfield held an eight point lead going into the second.

The eight point lead ballooned to 20 quickly, with seemingly every player on Garfield getting in on the action. Coach Haskins uncharacteristically used ten players in the first half. His team is typically 5-6 deep, but he opened up his bench and let them roll over the Panthers in the first half. They led by as many as 24 in the second, but the Panthers cut it to 46-30 at the half.

Garfield’s heat in the first half turned to ice in the third. They scored just four points in the first six minutes of the quarter, allowing the Panthers to cut the lead to eight. The bleeding continued to for the Bulldogs, as there seemed to be a seal over their basket. The Panthers trailed by just six entering the fourth.

Prep kept their momentum early in the fourth. A Colin Welp three for the Panthers cut the Garfield lead to just three, 56-53 with 5:30 to play. The three point lead was maintained for the next three minutes as neither team was able to convert on the offensive end. Jaylen Nowell broke the cold streak with a pair of free-throws to push Garfield up 60-55 with 1:30 on the clock. Aaron Nettles responded for the Panthers with a mid-range jumper, cutting the lead back down to three with under one minute to play.

Nowell answered again for the Bulldogs, converting on a spin move floater off the glass to extend the lead back to five with 32 seconds on the clock. The ensuing possession resulted in another Welp three pointer, electrifying the Panther crowd, now just down 2 with 10 seconds to go. The Panthers, forced to foul, fouled Terrell Brown, who hit both free throws, icing the game with a four point lead. A Jack Stewart three for the Panthers missed just long, and the Bulldogs took the contest 64-60.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
Jack Stewart and J’Raan Brooks – 16 points each

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell – 21 points
Alphonso Anderson – 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals

Rainier Beach Holds Metro League Champion Title for Another Year

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Steven Dion

Rainier Beach Holds Metro League Champion Title for Another Year
By Steven Dion

Friday- February 13	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Seattle Pacific University	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	17	25	19	23	84
Garfield	18	12	18	33	81

Rainier Beach Senior Ivy Smith

In a packed Brougham Pavilion at Seattle Pacific University, the Metro League title was up for grabs between 3-time defending 3A champs Rainier Beach and reigning 4A winner Garfield. There were former star alumni in the audience including Brandon Roy and current Philadelphia 76er Tony Wroten to see Washington’s top talent square off for a league title. Garfield took the regular season matchup by a score of 84-67 so The Beach Boys were eager to avenge the defeat in the Metro Championship. Regardless of the result, these familiar foes are likely to see one another again this season.

Super sophomore Jaylen Nowell started the game on a 6-0 run to give the Bulldogs an early spark. Garfield’s early advantage was compounded by the Vikings’ inability to find an offensive rhythm. However, as Beach seemingly always does, they closed the quarter strong by when Ivy Smith buried two threes in the corner.
The second frame proved to be a pivotal stretch for RBHS as a Dejounte Murray dunk propelled the Viks to a 25-12 run. When Garfield’s Alphonso Anderson picked up his second foul and was forced to sit on the bench, RB capitalized and the complexity of the game changed. The Bulldogs lost their effortless flow and resorted to operating in the half-court with a visible lack of confidence. Mike Bethea’s Vikings grabbed a double-digit lead with 1:30 remaining in the first half and led by a dozen at halftime.

Rainier Beach’s leading scorer in the contest Shadeed Shabazz started to pour it on during the third quarter. The senior guard was able to get tough shots in the paint to fall and demonstrated his defensive prowess by turning the Bulldogs over. Leading by 13 with eight minutes to play, could Rainier Beach hold on?

Jaylen Nowell re-emerged in the as his 11 point fourth-quarter propelled Garfield to a 9-0 run late to bring the contest to 77-73 with 2:48 remaining and a RB timeout to talk things over. In the ensuing possession, Murray was able to knock down a contested jumper with an expiring shot-clock. Garfield was able to respond and keep the margin close. In the final 20 seconds, Ivy Smith was at the line with a 83-81 lead and two shots to seal the contest. The senior made the front end of the one-and-one. Shot two rimmed out and Garfield had a chance to put the game into overtime. Jaylen Nowell fired a good look from downtown and it rimmed out to the hands of Austin Anderson. The ball was fed to Nowell for a second chance, but Shabazz jumped the passing lane and created a pile-up as the fight for the ball erased the last seconds on the clock. Rainier Beach holds on to capture another Metro League championship.

The Final Score: Rainier Beach 84 Garfield 81

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Shadeed Shabazz-25 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell-33 points

The #1 Bulldogs Handle Seattle Prep, Advance to Metro Final

Posted on February 12, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

The #1 Bulldogs Handle Seattle Prep, Advance to Metro Final
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday February 11	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Ingraham High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Prep	14	11	15	9	49
Garfield	20	14	16	14	64

Seattle Prep knew they were in for a tough matchup when facing the #1 3A ranked team in the state, the 4A defending champion Garfield Bulldogs. Garfield came out swinging early in the first frame of this contest, putting up a cool 20 on the Panthers, who had no match for the speed and quickness of the Bulldogs. But Prep would not go down without a fight, scoring 14 points on the back of Collin Welp’s 7 to trail by just six going into the second.

The first five minutes of the second quarter all belonged to Seattle Prep. The Panthers zone defense was stifling to the quicker but smaller Bulldogs. Prep cut the Bulldog lead to just one, 26-25 with three minutes to play in the half. But the Bulldogs responded, as they normally do, with a commanding 8-0 run to end the first half with a nine point lead.

Garfield extended their lead again in the third quarter, with sophomores Jashaun Agosto and Jaylen Nowell leading the charge. Prep continued to hang around, but the Bulldogs were in control.

The fourth quarter came down to the final three minutes, with the Bulldogs clinging to a six point lead. Prep could really never get over that barrier, as Agosto forced two late turnovers that sealed the contest for the Bulldogs, 64-49. What a great game!

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
J’Raan Brooks – 12 points
Jack Stewart and Collin Welp – 11 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell – 22 points
Jashaun Agosto – 21 points
Alphonso Anderson – 16 points

Rainier Beach Advances to Metro Final

Posted on February 12, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Rainier Beach Advances to Metro Final
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday February 11	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Ingraham High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	16	17	14	13	60
Rainier Beach	24	20	18	17	79

With a trip to the coveted Metro final at stake, the Rainier Beach Vikings and Eastside Catholic Crusaders clashed at Ingraham High School in front of a packed house. Rainier Beach was a clear favorite in this game, the three time state champs are always ready for the toughest competition in the state.

Beach demonstrated their #2 in state ranking by putting up 24 points in the first quarter. On the back of unbelievable shooting by Shadeed Shabazz and DeJounte Murray, the Crusaders had no response for the shot making and athleticism displayed by the Vikings.

The second quarter was not much better for Eastside Catholic, who struggled defensively and struggled bringing the ball up the floor. Rainier Beach’s lateral quickness is rivaled by only Garfield’s, and it is difficult for any team to bring the ball up against Ivy Smith. Beach extended their lead in the second and took an 11 point lead into halftime.

Eastside began to come back early in the third, cutting the lead to just six points midway through the frame. But the Vikings always had answers, Shabazz and Murray were seemingly un-guardable throughout the contest.

The game turned into more of a blowout later in the fourth, with the Vikings walking away with a comfortable 79-60 win.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy – 16 points
Max Hudgins – 15 points
Andrew Padilla – 14 points

Rainier Beach
DeJounte Murray – 27 points
Shadeed Shabazz – 24 points

Rainier Beach Handles Prep on Senior Night

Posted on February 12, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Rainier Beach Handles Prep on Senior Night
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 6	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Rainier Beach High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Prep	16	9	11	18	54
Rainier Beach	14	18	20	9	61

In a clash of titans in the metro league, the Seattle Prep Panthers traveled south to take on the Rainier Beach Vikings. Both teams walked into this contest with 16 wins under their belt, clearly putting themselves in the elite conversation for Metro and for state in 3A hoops.

Prep started the game on a great run, capitalizing on the size mismatches they bring to every game. It is tough for a high school team to matchup against three starters that all measure 6’8″, and that is what the state has to be prepared for against the Panthers.

Prep got off to an early lead, stemmed by a 10-0 run and Jack Stewart’s 2 three pointers. But Beach battled back to trail the first quarter by just two, closing the quarter on a 35 foot bank shot by Washington commit DeJounte Murray.

Beach began to put their foot on the gas in the second quarter. Ivy Smith and Shadeed Shabazz forced numerous turnovers in the Panther backcourt, leading to easy layups and dunks. The second and third quarter were a little messy for the Panthers, who only put up 20 points total against Beach’s 38.

But Prep would not stop battling. Beach assumed they had the game in hand with such a comfortable lead in the fourth, but the Panthers scratched and clawed to cut the lead to just 4 with under two minutes to play. The Vikings again stepped up with their tenacious defense, forced two critical turnovers, and sealed the win with a 61-54 final.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
J’Raan Brooks – 14 points
Jack Stewart – 14 points

Rainier Beach
DeJounte Murray – 16 points
Vincenzo Reiser – 15 points

Hudgins’ 19 Propels Crusaders Past Braves

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Steven Dion

Hudgins’ 19 Propels Crusaders Past Braves
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- January 20	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Bishop Blanchet High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	15	17	19	9	60
Bishop Blanchet	4	17	11	14	46

Eastside Catholic Senior Max Hudgins

The 3A runner-up a season ago made a visit to Bishop Blanchet High School on Tuesday night to take on the Braves for some Metro League action. Coach Liley’s Crusaders squad is on track to make a run at the state title again this season as their athleticism, leadership, and chemistry are in the upper ranks of Washington state hoops. However, Blanchet is headed in the upward direction as a program and on pace to record a higher win total than the previous year for the fourth consecutive season under Coach Bilanko. This matchup is one of the biggest tests the Braves would face.

There was a slow pace when the game started as both teams had difficulty finding a rhythm. Eastside eventually broke the spell by increasing the intensity on the defensive end and it translated to points on the other side of the floor. One of the defensive turnovers resulted in a high-flying, two-handed slam by Matisse Thybulle. By the end of the first frame, the Crusaders jumped out to a 15-4 lead. Blanchet regrouped in the second quarter when Sam Cunliffe and Derrik Dean were able to get shots to fall. The pair scored 12 and 7 respectively before the break and brought the game back to single digits within the quarter. The lead could have been cut even further, but an efficient first half by Mandrell Worthy who registered 9 of his 16 total points on 4 of 5 shooting brought the lead back to 11 when the buzzer sounded. At intermission, Eastside Catholic led 32-21.

The visitor’s lead continued to grow in the second half through contributions of Max Hudgins who led all scorers with 19 points. ECHS went 6/6 from the charity stripe in the third quarter and 10/12 overall which proved to be an important piece of their success. Cunliffe made a strong effort to get the Braves back on track, but the opposing defense made it difficult for him to get into a groove. A pair of pull-up 3’s by the Crusaders helped build a 19 point lead going into the final frame. With the game essentially put away, both teams emptied their benches to give reserves minutes. Ryan Harmon found himself with the rock and nothing but daylight ahead so he finished with a two-handed slam to end the game on a good note for the home team. Eastside Catholic proved their prestige by walking away with a double-digit victory against an ever-improving Blanchet team.

The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 60 Bishop Blanchet 46

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Max Hudgins-19 points (6/13 FGs, 4/11 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs)

Bishop Blanchet
Sam Cunliffe-18 points