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3A State Championship

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Randall Novak

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Varsity Hoops Live
Live Broadcasts of the 3A State Tournament
on www.theFinalScore.TV

Saturday- March 4	2017	3A	Boys	Tournament
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	13	16	11	11	51
Nathan Hale	15	11	23	19	68

3A	Garfield Bulldogs
#	Player	FG	3FG	FT	REB	A	F	PTS
0	Jelani Howard	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
1	Jamon Kemp	4-6	1-1	3-4	6	0	0	12
2	Daejon Davis	2-7	0-1	0-2	4	2	4	4
3	Eddie Turner	2-4	1-1	0-0	2	1	2	5
5	Jaylen Nowell	3-15	0-5	1-2	3	2	4	7
10	Mekhi Metcalf	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0
11	Tre'Shaun Harrison	0-2	0-2	0-0	0	0	0	0
12	Karl Drammeh	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0
13	Curtis Walker	3-10	1-6	1-2	5	1	3	8
23	Markele Lilly	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	1	0
24	Noah Neubauer	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
33	J'Rann Brooks	7-13	0-1	1-3	4	2	4	15

3A	Nathan Hale Raiders
#	Player	FG	3FG	FT	REB	A	F	PTS
1	Michael Porter Jr.	10-18	2-5	5-6	17	1	2	27
3	PJ Fuller	3-9	1-5	5-7	3	4	3	12
4	Kateel Barnett	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
5	Coban Porter	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
11	Jontay Porter	2-8	1-4	5-6	4	3	4	10
13	Tre-Var Holland	2-3	1-2	5-6	0	1	0	10
21	Dempsey Hope	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
23	Tajon Williams	0-0	0-0	0-2	0	0	0	0
24	Freddy Brown III	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	1	0	0
32	Stieg Smith	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0
33	Keegan Crosby	3-5	3-5	0-0	1	2	1	9

Catch our Live Broadcasts of the 3A State Tournament on theFinalScore.TV all week long.

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Hale Caps Off Historic Season, Claim 3A Hardware

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Caps Off Historic Season, Claim 3A Hardware
By Steve Dion

Saturday- March 4th	2017	Boys	3A	Hardwood Classic
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	13	16	11	11	51
Nathan Hale	15	11	23	19	68

Nathan Hale Raiders

28 down, 1 to go.

Countless storylines heading into one basketball game.

The top ranked team in the country virtually all season long Nathan Hale led by first-year Head Coach Brandon Roy and touted prospect Michael Porter Jr. had one more box to check in his final prep game before following in his Roy’s footsteps and heading over to Montlake to play at the University of Washington.

To do so, they would have to take down a tough Garfield squad led by two future teammates Jaylen Nowell & Daejon Davis for the fourth time this season, the closest of which a four point win at Garfield on January 27th in a nationally-televised game. Could Garfield prevent the Raiders from rewriting the history books of Washington high school basketball?

A tightly contested opening two quarters were highlighted by the one-two punch of Porter and P.J. Fuller who combined for 17 points and 11 rebounds in a low scoring first half. The Bulldogs relied on their balance of playmakers including Jamon Kemp whose midrange game had early success for 9 early points. Both teams were held under 40% from the field. At the break, Nathan Hale found themselves in the rare position of trailing; a three point deficit.

The third quarter has been a friend of Hale’s all season long. Tonight was no exception. The notion that this was the time the Raiders would crumble was quickly wiped away when they exploded for 23 points in the eight minutes following intermission helping to secure a double-digit margin heading into the final frame. Jontay Porter’s size and strength were too much for the increasingly fatigued Bulldogs to contain. J’Raan Brooks kept the door cracked open for a miraculous comeback scoring 15 points leading Garfield, but the Raiders were able to close out with authority including a dunk of the ages by Porter which he tossed to himself off the backboard and followed up with a tomahawk slam akin to what you’d see on an NBA court. When the clock struck triple zeros, Nathan Hale finished the job many had dream was possible, but one that needed to be seen to believe.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 68, Garfield 51

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 27 points, 17 rebounds

Garfield
J’Raan Brooks- 15 points

Hale Upends Abes, Title Game Bound

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Upends Abes, Title Game Bound
By Steve Dion

Friday- March 3rd	2017	Boys	3A	Hardwood Classic
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lincoln	18	15	13	14	60
Nathan Hale	24	17	17	26	84

Nathan Hale Sophomore P.J. Fuller

53 wins, zero losses.

That was the combined record of the two teams heading into the first of two 3A semifinals on Friday night at “The Woodshed” in Tacoma. Top ranked team in the nation Nathan Hale fresh off a quarterfinal win against Standwood squared off against Lincoln who delivered a gutsy win on Thursday night over Seattle Prep.

As he does seemingly every night, Michael Porter Jr. started his monster night with 18 first half points to go with 5 rebounds including a few highlight-reel dunks. Stellar sophomore P.J. Fuller also had an impressive showing as his 29 points on 11/13 field goals led all scorers. The Abes kept the score close in the first half with Trevante Anderson and Emmett Linton doing damage on both ends of the floor. An eight point deficit for Lincoln at the break put themselves in position to make things interesting in the second half.

Like clockwork, Hale dashed any hope for an upset by ramping up the pace of play and letting the tremendous athleticism on their roster. Tre’var Holland made some back-breaking plays with his crafty ball-handling as part of a 16 point, 5 rebound performance. Aubrey Shelton’s Abes battled to the final whistle, but the Raiders simply overpowered their competition for the 26th time this season.

Will they make it 27 in the most important of them all tomorrow?

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 84, Lincoln 60

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
P.J. Fuller- 29 points, 4 rebounds

Lincoln
Trevante Anderson- 20 points, 12 rebounds

Hale Motors Past Stanwood in Tourney Opener

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Motors Past Stanwood in Tourney Opener
By Steve Dion

Thursday- March 2nd	2017	Boys	3A	Hardwood Classic
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Stanwood	10	14	18	21	63
Nathan Hale	20	22	27	17	86

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

The Tacoma Dome is not a familiar destination for the Nathan Hale Raiders. Similarly, a team with talent like Brandon Roy’s Raiders is equally rare.

The human highlight reel Michael Porter Jr. demonstrated his elite skills in the first half netting 20 of his 36 point total. PJ Fuller made his presence felt as well by tallying 13. The scrappy Spartans battled as senior leader A.J. Martinka reached double figures before halftime. However, an 18 point lead against the top team in the country would be a steep hill to climb for Stanwood.

It didn’t take long for Hale to seal the deal in the second half as more of the Raiders weapons including Jontay Porter, Fred Brown, and Tre’var Hollard joined Porter Jr. in the scoring spree. Stanwood showed tremendous fight with Cameron Plautz among others recorded strong figures as the game wore on. A decisive victory for Hale sets them up for a Friday night contest against also undefeated Lincoln.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 53, Stanwood 36

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 36 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals

Stanwood
Chase Strieby- 15 points, 8 rebounds

Hale Clips Beach Second Straight Saturday

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Clips Beach Second Straight Saturday
By Steve Dion

Saturday- February 25th	2017	Boys	3A	Regionals
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	21	17	11	22	71
Nathan Hale	17	17	19	27	80

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

Déjà vu.

It was at this same gymnasium in Bellevue one week ago when the top ranked team in the country Nathan Hale defeat defend Rainier Beach by 4 points, its lowest margin of victory this historic season. That game determined the district championship. Tonight, the stakes were raised as a first-round bye in the state tournament next week was on the line in addition to a favorable route to championship Saturday. Could the Vikings stun the Raiders in their third meeting of the season?

Rainier Beach began its attempt to knock off undefeated Hale early as crafty guard Khalil Shabazz netted 15 first-half points to lead the Vikings in the first half. The highly touted Michael Porter Jr. recorded 14 of his own including some thrilling dunks and acrobatic jumpers. At the break, Beach led 38-34.

A staple of Hale’s success this season is their ability to execute in the second half and that’s exactly what they did in this contest. Porter continued to carry the load adding another 10 in the third frame as the Raiders gained the lead heading into the final quarter. In addition, P.J. Fuller ignited the crowd with a huge block and 16 massive points to go with it.

Much like last week’s matchup, Beach fought back with N’Keil Nelson attacking the cup to add to his scoring total which finished at 18. However, a late Porter triple served as the dagger which sealed the victory for Brandon Roy’s still undefeated Hale squad. They retain their top seed heading into the state tourney which sets them up nicely for a clear route to the championship game.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 80, Rainier Beach 71

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 39 points

Rainier Beach
Khalil Shabazz- 24 points

Hale Survives Late Scare, Wins SeaKing District

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Survives Late Scare, Wins SeaKing District
By Colin Caruso

Saturday- February 18th	2017	Boys	3A	SeaKing Final
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	11	20	25	28	84
Nathan Hale	14	32	16	26	88

Jorell Saterfield & Michael Porter Jr.

In a packed Bellevue College gymnasium, with the SeaKing crown at stake, the #1 in the nation Nathan Hale Raiders faced off against the defending state champion Rainier Beach Vikings. The gym was electric to start the contest, but the play on the court didn’t match the fans anticipation until much later in the game. A slow first quarter progressed into a 3-point shooting contest in the second, where Nathan Hale scored an astounding 32 points in 8 minutes. Rainier Beach did what they could to stick with the high octane Raiders, but Hale extended their lead to 46-31 at the break.

The gym knew that Rainier Beach and coach Mike Bethea would have tricks up their sleeve in the second half to get back in the game. The first half Vikings looked passive, comfortable with taking down the shot clock and attempting deep contested shots. The second half Vikings couldn’t have been more of the opposite. Relentless attacks to the paint by Kevin Porter and N’Keil Nelson brought the mighty Vikings back into the game.

With just 4 minutes remaining on the clock, the Rainier Beach Vikings had tied the game, 69-69, the only tie since 0-0 at tip off. But Nathan Hale answered with a 14-4 run, capped by easy transition layups that left coach Bethea with his head in his hands. Coach Brandon Roy and the incredible Porter brothers, led by Michael Porter Jr. with 44 points on the night, capped off an amazing victory to win the SeaKing district. Now they are on to state, where Nathan Hale could go for their third title in as many weeks, but this one more sweet than the rest.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 88, Rainier Beach 84

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 44 points

Rainier Beach
Kevin Porter Jr.- 34 points

Porter Steers Hale Past Pryor-Led West Seattle in District Semis

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Steven Dion

Porter Steers Hale Past Pryor-Led West Seattle in District Semis
By Steve Dion

Thursday- February 16th	2017	Boys	3A	SeaKing
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
West Seattle	10	16	15	11	52
Nathan Hale	16	13	15	18	62

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

It was eight days ago that top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale faced one of its stiffest tests of their historic season; a Metro League semifinal matchup with West Seattle at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Wildcats had another opportunity to make a run at the Brandon Roy-led juggernaut again in the district semis Thursday night.

There were many similarities to the game last week evident early on as the Wildcats were able to keep the Raiders within arms length at all times. Senior leaders Michael Porter Jr. & Nate Pryor led their ballclubs with one razzle-dazzle play after another igniting the crowd ever more. Porter demonstrated his highlight-reel ability with some thunderous dunks in the first half. Pryor sent Westside into the locker room with a dose of momentum by burying a half-court shot at the second quarter buzzer.

The third quarter was a blow-for-blow eight minutes where Pryor continued to rack up several of his team-high 31 points on increasingly difficult shots. Westside even attained a lead late in the third frame. However, eight minutes is a lifetime against the likes of the Raiders. Like the recent matchup, Hale closed strong with some clutch Porter field goals and a highlight PJ Fuller dunk that zapped the remaining momentum the Wildcats built. Despite the valiant effort, Hale maintained their perfect record heading into the district final against Rainier Beach set to take place Saturday night.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 62, West Seattle 52

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 34 points

West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 31 points

Hale Ends League Title Drought with Resounding Win Over Garfield

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Ends League Title Drought with Resounding Win Over Garfield
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 10th	2017	Boys	3A	Metro Championship
Chief Sealth High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	10	6	25	17	58
Nathan Hale	21	28	25	17	91

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

In their third (and likely not last) meeting of the season, top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale would look to capture their first league title in 25 years against reigning champs Garfield. Following Hale’s 72-59 win in the semis against West Seattle which they trailed during long stretches, Coach Brandon Roy said the Wildcats, “woke us up” and stated it served as a reminder teams are going to challenge them every night. After escaping with a 4-point win on January 27th in front of a national audience, Garfield would look to keep the Metro League Championship trophy in the Central District by handing the Raiders their first loss of the season.

Nathan Hale dominated this game from the opening tip and in doing so put on a display for all in attendance. After taking a double-digit lead after on quarter, the margin continue to build up to the break in which the outcome of the ballgame was all but official heading into the locker room.

The one-two punch of the Porter Brothers Michael Jr. & Jontay accounted for 46 points of the team’s 49 in the first half alone!

On the other side, Garfield’s inability to convert on the offensive end led to a snowballing lack of confidence with each successive attempt. Jaylen Nowell still gutted out a respectable 18 points to lead his team, but foul trouble dashed Garfield’s hopes early continued throughout the ballgame.

With the second half merely a showcase of elite high school hoops talent, Hale sophomore P.J. Fuller ignited the crowd with a handful of acrobatic scoops and emphatic dunks.

Once the clock hit triple zeros, Brandon Roy accomplished something that hadn’t been done since before his playing days which was bring a Metro League Championship to Nathan Hale.

As for Garfield, they’ll bounce back from Friday’s game because they know they’ll see the Raiders down the road very soon.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 91, Garfield 58

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 39 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 18 points

Hale Survives Scare By West Seattle in Metro Semis

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Steven Dion

Hale Survives Scare By West Seattle in Metro Semis
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday- February 8th	2017	Boys	3A	Metro Semifinals
Alaska Airlines Arena	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
West Seattle	16	24	9	10	59
Nathan Hale	18	16	17	21	72

Nathan Hale Junior Jontay Porter

In the historic Hec Edmundson Pavilion and Alaska Airlines Arena, the Metro tournament was back in action for a semifinal matchup between West Seattle High School and the #1 team in the country, the Nathan Hale Raiders. Although suffering two defeats this year at the hands of Nathan Hale, the West Seattle Wildcats were not to going to back down to the juggernaut Raiders.

West Seattle led for the majority of the first half. Despite the large Hec Ed facility, they seemed right at home knocking down 3 after 3. Led by PG Nate Pryor in the first half, they took a 40-34 lead into the locker room at halftime. Despite good shooting by Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale, the constant double teams forced him to pass, exactly what coach Keffrey Fazio of West Seattle wanted. At one point in the second quarter, all five Wildcats on the floor were smothering Michael Porter at the high post.

Nathan Hale received a motivating chat at halftime from coach Brandon Roy and came out on fire to start the third. Seven unanswered points gave them the first lead since early in the second quarter, 41-40. Even this quick burst did not intimidate Pryor and the Wildcats, they continued to battle and trailed by just two, 51-49 entering the fourth quarter.

After exchanging buckets for the first few minutes of the quarter, Michael Porter Jr. took the game into his hands. He followed up a missed free throw put back dunk with two mid-range jumpers and a thunderous dunk to take a 65-55 lead with under three minutes to play. West Seattle had no answer for the acrobatics of the Porters, Jontay and Michael, who scored all Nathan Hale’s points in the first 14 minutes of the second half. Nathan Hale, despite trailing at half, cruised to a 72-59 win.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 72, West Seattle 59

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 42 points

West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 26 points

Roy’s Raiders Remain Undefeated, Edge Alma Mater Garfield

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Steven Dion

Roy’s Raiders Remain Undefeated, Edge Alma Mater Garfield
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 27th	2017	Boys	3A	Metro
Garfield High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Nathan Hale	11	23	19	16	69
Garfield	17	14	13	21	65

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

This was the game we’ve all waited patiently for.

The top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale led by Coach Brandon Roy returning to his old stomping ground…the place where he played high school hoops…to take on the Garfield Bulldogs in front of a national television audience.

Washington’s top two teams met in the Les Schwab Invitational on December 29th with Nathan Hale winning in convincing fashion 87-64 en route to winning the tournament.

Could Hale keep their perfect record intact and retain their position as the best in the country?

Garfield quickly showed they were ready for the challenge as the home team jumped out to an early lead thanks to quick buckets by senior leader Jaylen Nowell. The poise shown by the Bulldogs served them well and allowed for a six point lead after one quarter.

Hale bounced back with a strong second quarter where Michael Porter Jr. started to heat up scoring 9 and sharpshooter Freddy Brown III netting 8. The momentum shift gave the Raiders and 8 point lead at the break.

When play resumed, the points were at a premium and Garfield found themselves in a precarious position heading into the final eight minutes. Haskins was able to rally the troops and give the home team a legitimate shot to stay competitive until the final whistle.

With the clock Hale’s friend after another scoring spree by Porter Jr., Garfield was trailing by double digits with less than 3 to play. Nowell struck back with a 7 point run to cut the lead down to two possessions to get the gym rocking again. On the ensuing critical possession, Porter took the air out of the building with a turnaround fadeaway jumper which was promptly followed by Nowell’s fifth foul to put the game on ice.

Coach Roy was able to guide his team to executing the final moments of the game and walked away with yet another statement victory to a season that continues to unfold as one of the greatest in state history.

Nathan Hale leads the season series 2-0, but don’t count on tonight’s game as the last time these two teams tussle!

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 69, Garfield 65.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 34 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 20 points

Metro League Semifinals move to Alaska Airlines Arena at UW

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Randall Novak

2017 Metro League Tournament just got Bigger!

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Metro League announced their plans to move their semifinal basketball match-ups to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday, February 8th. The Boys and Girls final four teams will go head-to-head as part of the Metro League Tournament.

Former Garfield Bulldog and current Nathan Hale coach, Brandon Roy, was interviewed by KJR personalities Mitch Levy and Dick Fain about the Raiders upcoming game against his Alma Mater Garfield this Friday Night at Garfield High School.

This battle of #1 Nathan Hale vs. #2 Garfield has received unprecedented coverage and includes live broadcasts on both ESPNU-TV and Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM. This is the first game televised Live from Garfield High School since Roy was a senior for Garfield back in 2002.

Mitch and Dick of Sports Radio KJR then broke the news that the Metro League Playoffs will move its semifinal games to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday, February 8th. This will allow all fans an opportunity to see in person what experts are saying is the toughest league in Washington state history, if not the toughest league in the country.

“Metro Athletics represents quality student athletes from public and private schools in all sports,” stated Eric McCurdy, Executive Director of Athletics of Seattle Schools. “We are proud to have Varsity Hoops Live and theFinalScore.TV produce this event as they continue to positively impact high school students through events and programs on and off the court.”

Game and Broadcast Schedule

2017 Metro League Tournament Semifinals schedule of events:

• Winner #6 Metro vs #3 Metro Play-in vs. Metro #2 seed – Girls 3:30pm*
• Winner #5 Seattle Prep vs #4 West Seattle Play-in vs. Nathan Hale – Boys 5:30pm*
• Winner #5 Metro vs #4 Metro Play-in vs. Bishop Blanchet – Girls 7:00pm*
• Winner #6 Metro vs #3 Rainier Beach Play-in vs. Garfield – Boys 8:30pm**

* Varsity Hoops Live Broadcast on www.theFinalScore.TV
** Varsity Hoops Live Broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM

The event has several media partners including Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM, POWER 93.3-FM and www.theFinalScore.TV.

All games will be carried via a live audio broadcast over the internet or on radio.

“Our hope is to celebrate great teams in a great venue. We look to showcase amazing high school students on and off the court throughout the day! We are excited to produce the event while broadcasting the games live over the web,” stated Randy Novak, President of ZUMA Media.

Ticket Information

Tickets are available for general admission seating and good for all four games. Tickets will be available the day of the event ONLY beginning at 3:00pm at the HUSKY STADIUM Box Office located on the westside of the Stadium.

Once fans enter Alaska Airlines Arena for the event, they can stay for all four games. However, they will not be able to re-enter the event if they leave. Ticket prices are as folllows:

Adults/students without ASB: $10
Students with ASB: $ 7
Kids K-8: $ 5
Seniors 62yrs +: $ 5

Statement Win for Nathan Hale Over Oak Hill Academy

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Steven Dion

Statement Win for Nathan Hale Over Oak Hill Academy
By Nic Beckman

Monday- January 16th	2017	Boys	3A	Hoophall Classic
Springfield College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Oak Hill Academy (VA)	19	19	17	22	77
Nathan Hale	17	26	20	17	80

The #8 team in the country travelled to Springfield, Massachusetts on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday to play in the Spalding Hoophall Classic against perennial high school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy out of Virginia, ranked #7 this year. Michael Porter Jr after sitting out their game on Friday in their metro league game against Bishop Blanchet, that the Raiders won 83-48, came out ready to play! The undefeated Raiders played with confidence and energy and didn’t let the loaded Oak Hill Academy squad led by McDonald’s All American Billy Preston intimidate them. Senior Michael Porter Jr and his junior brother Jontay Porter got the first 8 points for Hale, 4 apiece to get an early lead over Oak Hill. But the very talented Oak Hill team rallied to get up by 6 at 14-8 halfway though the first. The back an forth action had Oak Hill up by two after one 19-17.

The transition game sparked Brandon Roy’s Raiders in the second period after Oak Hill opened on an 8-4 run extending their lead to 6 at 27-21. The Porter brothers hit back to back threes and Sophomore PJ Fuller with a right hand tomahawk jam on a Keegan Crosby lob in transition, then a pull up three on the next trip cut the lead to 2 at 34-32 with just over three minutes in the half. Tied at 34 with 2:58 left, the Raiders closed the half on an 9-4 run of their own and went into the locker room up five, 43-38. Michael Porter Jr tallied 20 first half points on 8-14 field goal attempts.

The second half was much of the same great basketball with contributions from Jontay Porter, PJ Fuller and Fred Brown III, tied at 51 with just under 4 minutes played in the third, Michael Porter Jr hit his third 3 (3-6 3’s) and a goal tend by Oak Hill had the Raiders back up by 5. As the clock ran out in the 3rd, PJ Fuller with a launch from the free throw line in back court, hit nothing but net and the 80 foot bomb put Nathan Hale up 63-55 heading into the final period. Fred Brown III deep three from the right corner gave Nathan Hale their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter at 72-62.

The very talented Oak Hill team would battle back, getting the game within a single possession, behind the leadership of Lindell Wigginton who would finish with 22. Three other players getting double digit performances Billy Preston with 17, Matt Coleman and Ty-shon Alexander each with 15. But that wasn’t enough to overcome the Raiders. Michael Porter Jr. making a statement for the #1 player in the nation overall, finished with 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore PJ Fuller finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal and Junior Jontay Porter got 13 points to go with 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal. Nathan Hale with a fantastic effort from start to finish would hold on to win as a last second desperation three for the tie hit the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded. The Raiders remain undefeated with the 80-77 win over Oak Hill Academy on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 80, Oak Hill Academy (VA) 77.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
P.J. Fuller- 17 points, 4 rebounds
Jontay Porter- 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks

Porter Drops 52 in O’Dea Rout

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Steven Dion

Porter Drops 52 in O’Dea Rout
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 3rd	2017	Boys	3A	Metro
O'Dea High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
O'Dea	11	22	15	20	68
Nathan Hale	31	26	38	15	110

Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

Fresh off their Les Schwab Invitational championship, top-ranked Nathan Hale returned to league play in 2017 to take on O’Dea. The packed gymnasium was brimming with anticipation to see the high-flying Raiders take on the reigning state runner-up.

In the opening moments, PJ Fuller started the high-scoring affair with a quick 7 points as part of a 31 point first quarter. The tenacious Hale defense matched their unstoppable attack forcing turnovers and setting up Michael Porter with some high-flying slams and pinpoint shooting. The 6’9 senior logged an impressive 52 points and 15 rebounds in the contest.

O’Dea battled until the final whistle despite being down big early on including strong efforts by talented sophomore Noah Williams who scored 28 tough points and Xavier Smith who tallied 21 in the game. When the dust settled, Hale rang in the new year with a dominant 42 point win.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 110, O’Dea 68.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 52 points, 15 rebounds

O’Dea
Noah Williams- 28 points

Post-Game Interview with Nathan Hale Head Coach Brandon Roy 12/9/16

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Steven Dion

Varsity Hoops Live Post-Game Coach Interview
Nathan Hale Raiders – Head Basketball Coach
Brandon Roy

Following Friday night’s big win for Nathan Hale, Dick Fain catches up with Brandon Roy to talk about his thoughts on the matchup and the outlook for his team this season.

To catch the complete post-game interview with Nathan Hale Coach Brandon Roy,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Hale Outlasts Beach in Early Season Showcase

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Steven Dion

Hale Outlasts Beach in Early Season Showcase
By Steve Dion

Friday- December 9th	2016	Boys	3A	Metro
Nathan Hale High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	15	10	16	20	61
Nathan Hale	17	17	17	23	74

Nathan Hale Sophomore PJ Fuller

If tonight was a taste of what’s to come this Metro League season, we’re all in for a real treat as a capacity crowd filled the Nathan Hale gym to see the defending champion Rainier Beach Vikings take on the host Raiders.

The frenetic pace of play was present wire-to-wire with Hale leading the majority of the contest. Early foul trouble for Jontay Porter forced Coach Brandon Roy to keep the talented junior on the bench accordingly leaving older brother Michael to pick up the slack en route to his game-high 35 points. Meanwhile the supporting cast of Hale including PJ Fuller and Keegan Crosby recorded 9 & 12 respectively.

The Vikings trailed the majority of the ballgame, but a few second-half spurts made the contest interesting until the final minutes when Hale pulled away. Kevin Porter led RB with 14 tough points while being blanketed all game long. Also in double figures were Jorell Soterfield and N’Keil Nelson who scored 10 and 11 apiece. Some missed opportunities near the rim for the defending champs hindered their ability to pull out a big road victory, but they’ll certainly reload and likely give Nathan Hale a tough test on a bigger stage down the stretch.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 74, Rainier Beach 61.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 35 points

Rainier Beach
Kevin Porter Jr.-14 points

Lakeside Prevails in Double Overtime Shootout with Hale

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Nov. 1st	2014	3A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	1OT	2OT	Final
Nathan Hale	7	7	14	7	7	0	42
Lakeside	3	8	7	17	7	7	49

Game Recap below

Lakeside Prevails in Double Overtime Shootout with Hale
By Steven Dion

November has arrived which means playoff football is in it stages of infancy as seeding is underway for the postseason. The seventh and eighth seeds for the Metro League were to be decided by the Lakeside Lions and Nathan Hale Raiders. It is fitting the game was played at Memorial Stadium because this contest was indeed memorable.

The Lions took advantage of an extended drive early in the contest by allowing Wyatt Paul to boot a 20 yard chip shot. Paul was a big factor in the game as his leg was responsible for 9 points and a great deal of field position advantage for his squad. Hale responded with a Nathan Cooprider quarterback keeper from five yards out for a Raiders lead. Cole Stephens returned the favor with a 13 yard scamper of his own for the third of eight lead changes in the game. The Raiders turned up the intensity a notch by blocking a field goal and forcing a pick in the hands of Sam Tessema. The latter led to a Naweeb Kamiab run to establish a 14-11 lead which they took to the locker room.

Heading into the third trailing by only three points was a stroke of luck for Lakeside because they committed nine penalties to Hale’s one. The yellow laundry started to catch up with Lakeside in the opening minutes of the third, as they committed two personal fouls which aided a touchdown drive capped off by a 25 yard run by Noah Witmer. On the ensuing drive, Lakeside’s quarterback Bennett Dondoyano found a wide open Mayan Chavez and connected, but the ball mysteriously came free from the Lion receiver’s hands mere yards from the endzone. Nathan Hale took advantage by feeding Witmer and he delivered with another touchdown run, this time from 26 yards out. NHHS had the momentum at this point leading 28-11. The Lions took it back as they conducted a three-play, eighty yard drive which finished on a 37 yard Stephens run. After three quarters, Hale led 28-18.

To climb back into the game, Lakeside was forced to gamble on fourth downs to keep the chains moving. With 10:45 left, Cole Stephens scored for the third time on a 53 yard screen pass from Dondoyano. Minutes later, Dondoyano got a TD of his own after Stephens converted on a 4th and 3 previously. Hale bit back on a Webb Hopkins touchdown grab, one of many fine catches by the senior. NHHS recovered the ensuing kickoff in the redzone, but came away with no points. With 1:37 remaining, Lakeside had to travel 98 yards to erase a 3 point deficit. The Lions were able to get to the Hale 2 with 5 ticks left. Wyatt Paul hit a 17 yard FG at the buzzer to tie it up 35 apiece. We headed to overtime.

First Overtime
Hale would get the ball first as Lakeside chose to defer after winning the toss. Cooprider found William Sanders open on an option from 10 yards out that tricked the Lion defense. Lakeside needed to match the Raiders to keep the contest alive. Cole Stephens stepped up as he did all game by punching the pigskin in from 2 yards out. The game continued.

Second Overtime
Lakeside won the toss again and chose to receive. For the fifth and final time, Cole Stephens barreled into the endzone from the one yard line. Needing a touchdown, Nathan Hale found themselves in a fourth and two situation. They handed the ball to Sanders. He dove forward very close to the first down marker. It was close. The chain game came out to measure. Short. Ballgame. Lakeside wins 49-42 to take the seventh seed in the Metro playoffs. Hale takes 8th.

Top Performers:
Lakeside
Cole Stephens
4 rushing TDs (1, 2, 13, 37) and 1 receiving TD (52)

Nathan Hale
Noah Witmer – 2 rushing TDs (25, 26)

Rainier Beach puts up 115

Posted on January 10, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Jan 7th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Rainier Beach High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Nathan Hale	18	14	20	18	70
Rainier Beach	33	25	39	18	115

See game recap below

Rainier Beach puts up 115
By Colin Caruso

The defending state champion Rainier Beach Vikings have already had a phenomenal season, and we aren’t even to February. The 10-0 Vikings have already beaten teams from all over the country, the likes of Bishop Gorman in Nevada and Whitney Young in Illinois. They faced up against a 3A metro team on Tuesday night looking to build upon their close seven point win in Bainbridge just four days prior.

Nathan Hale, instead of attempting to slow the contest down, did what they could to keep up pace with the amazingly athletic Vikings. The Raiders from Hale continuously put up shots early in the shot clock, giving Beach the ability to get up and down the floor with simplicity and grace. Rainier Beach flirted with the full court press in the first half, and went into the locker room with a commanding 58-32 lead.

The third quarter proved to be a three point entourage from the Vikings. Seven threes on the quarter, three from transfer David Crisp, pushed the Vikings to an outpouring of 39 points in the eight minute quarter. That is averaging almost five points per minute, or right around a point every 12 seconds. Hale guard Steven Shpreyregin did what he could to keep up with the Vikings, scoring 23 on his own. But his talents were trumped by this heavy favorite to win the state title. Beach took the home contest 115-70.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 27 points
David Crisp – 23 points

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham

Posted on January 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 3rd	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Ingraham High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Nathan Hale	13	9	17	25	64
Ingraham	20	7	6	17	50

See game recap below

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham
By Steven Dion

The first Friday of 2014 delivered several quality hoops matchups; one of which a showdown between Nathan Hale and host Ingraham. Both teams are jockeying for position in the highly competitive Metro League. Marques Chinn’s Ram squad is undersized, but fortunately makes up for it with an active guard duo of Jovan Owens and D’Olajuwon Swanks. The Raiders also boast a strong pair of guards in Tim Iwuhoa and Gadisa Margarsa that have size and athleticism.

Ingraham shot out of the gates with a 10-0 run sparked by Owens’ perimeter shooting. Hale cut into the deficit with a pair of triples by Steven Shpreyregin, but Owens struck back in a big way by draining a half-court shot at the buzzer to close out the first quarter with a 20-13 lead. The second quarter was a coach’s nightmare for both sides as poor shot selection and unnecessary fouls plagued both sides. The Raiders cut into the Ram lead marginally in the second quarter by edging the home team out 9-7 in the second frame. At the half, Ingraham led 27-22.

Nathan Hale certainly received a stern halftime talk by coach Chris Weakley for a relatively sloppy first half because the Raiders put together an impressive second sixteen minutes. Ingraham’s inability to score in the paint from their forwards extended a scoring drought into the third frame as the Rams only netted six points. NHHS started knocking down jumpers in transition through superior ball distribution by Tim Iwuhoa. The fourth quarter featured a shooting spree from Hale guards Shpreyregin and Nate Hartman as both seniors drained two from downtown. Ingraham could not recover from the deficit despite a late surge by Raymond Horne who scored twelve of his eighteen in the final quarter. Final score: Nathan Hale 64 Ingraham 50.

Top Performer:
Nathan Hale
Steven Shpreyregin – 23 points (7/10 FT’s, 4 3 pt. FG’s)