Mercer Island squeaks by O’Dea, advances to state
By Colin Caruso
| Tuesday- Feb. 12 | -2013- | 3A | SeaKing | District | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Mercer Island | 10 | 8 | 19 | 7 | 44 | |
| O'Dea | 11 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 42 | |
In an almost packed house at Bellevue College, the #1 seed from KingCo took on the #5 seed from Metro for a guaranteed trip to state. Both teams came out fundamentally sound, minimizing turnovers, playing good lock down defense, and converting on open looks. Four players scored for each team, and the O’Dea Fighting Irish took an 11-10 lead into the second.
O’Dea started the second on a 11-1 run in the first 2:25 minutes of the quarter, forcing the Mercer Island Islanders to switch from man to man defense to a 2-3 zone. Mercer Island answered by forcing four turnovers in the quarter and converting on additional scoring chances from the offensive glass. O’Dea went into halftime with a 24-18 lead.
Mercer Island began to heat up in the second half, hitting three three-pointers in the third quarter, two by senior Nick Nordale. O’Dea answered on the interior, with driving layups by Tyler Kidd and Jacob Lampkin. However, Mercer Island was too much for the Irish offensively in the third, outscoring them 19-12 in the quarter and taking a 37-36 lead into the fourth as Nordale hit a deep two from the corner as time expired.
O’Dea came out strong early in the fourth quarter, taking a 42-40 lead with 3:06 to play. Unfortunately, O’Dea would not score again in the contest. Turnovers plagued the Irish down the stretch, coughing up the ball seven times in the final period.
Caleb Warner made the last two buckets for the Islanders in the final 2:20 of the contest to take the lead 44-42. Neither team scored again after Warner’s baskets and the Islanders squeaked by Metro’s five seed, 44-42.
Mercer Island has now stamped their ticket to state and will play Lakeside at Bellevue College Thursday Afternoon at 3:00 pm. O’Dea will face off against Seattle Prep in a loser out game on Friday at 3:00 pm.
Leading Scorers:
Mercer Island
Kaleb Warner (12)
Nick Nordale (11 & 4 steals)
Joe Rasmussen (11 & 6 rebounds)
O’Dea
Tyler Kidd (13)
Jacob Lampkin (10)