Eastside Catholic
Liberty-Issaquah
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty-Issaquah | 24 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 70 |
| Eastside Catholic | 22 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 79 |
Game 3 of opening day at the 3A Boys State Tournament delivered fireworks, as the Eastside Catholic Crusaders squared off with the Liberty (Issaquah) Patriots in a fast-paced, high-scoring battle that had everything fans could ask for in a postseason matchup.
Right from the opening tip, both teams came out firing. Buckets poured in on both ends as neither defense could slow the early offensive surge. Liberty found a slight edge in the opening quarter, taking a narrow 22–20 lead after one in a back-and-forth start.
Eastside Catholic responded by turning up the defensive pressure in the second quarter. The Crusaders clamped down on the Patriots, limiting their scoring opportunities while capitalizing on the offensive end. The shift in momentum helped Eastside Catholic seize control, and they carried a 38–31 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Crusaders showed they meant business. Eastside Catholic pushed the tempo and continued to build on its lead, fueled by a dominant presence inside from big man Yabi Aklog. Liberty refused to go quietly, increasing their offensive production in the third quarter and erupting for 25 points in the final period in an attempt to mount a comeback.
But the Crusaders’ relentless attack proved too much to overcome. Behind Aklog’s monster performance, Eastside Catholic held strong down the stretch to secure a 79–70 victory, punching their ticket to the quarterfinal round.
In a game filled with offensive explosions and postseason intensity, Eastside Catholic proved they had the firepower and the inside dominance to keep their state title hopes alive.
Aklog led the charge with a commanding 32 points and 13 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Anthony Williams added 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Steven Sun chipped in 13 points to round out the Crusaders’ offensive effort.
Liberty was powered by a huge night from Jackson Whitaker, who poured in 31 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Tyson Burley contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Mason Chin added 12 points in the Patriots’ valiant effort.
Leading Scorers
Liberty-Issaquah
Jackson Whitaker - 31 points, 7 rebounds
Tyson Burley - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Mason Chin - 12 points
Eastside Catholic
Yabi Aklog - 32 points, 13 rebounds
Anthony Williams - 15 points, 8 rebounds
Steven Sun - 13 points
