WIAA Class 3A boys basketball trophy has new home - Eastside Catholic
TACOMA — For the first time in history, the Class 3A state championship trophy is on the way to Eastside Catholic.
Playing 3A Metro League rival Rainier Beach for the fourth time this winter Saturday night — this time for a state title — the Crusaders never trailed in the second half, and held off a late Vikings rally on the way to a 65-57 victory.
“It means everything — making school history, bringing the gold ball back,” senior guard Kayden Greene said. “It just means everything.
“People are going to remember us, our team, coaching — everything.”
The Crusaders had played for a state title once before, back in 2014, losing a two-point contest to Rainier Beach, which has now appeared in 15 state finals, and has nine wins.
This time, though, it was Eastside Catholic (23-6) celebrating at midcourt when the final buzzer sounded, as cheers echoed around the Tacoma Dome.
Eastside Catholic had earned five state trophies in eight state tournaments since that second-place finish in 2014 — including three third-place finishes, a fifth-place finish and a sixth-place trophy here last winter — but hadn’t made it back to the title game until Saturday.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Eastside Catholic boys coach Brent Merritt said. “I know Eastside hasn’t won one. It’s nine years coming. We thought we had it last year. To get it done here, man — unbelievable.”
The final meeting this season between the Crusaders and Vikings went back-and-forth early, with nine lead changes and four ties before the break.
Eastside Catholic took a 27-23 lead into halftime, and extended it as high as 12 in the third, but Rainier Beach went on a 9-1 run to close out the quarter. Kaden Powers tied the game at 44-44 with a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
The Crusaders regained the lead for good moments later, though, on a basket from Cofie to open the final quarter.
Two 3-pointers from Greene — who had five triples in the contest — in the final three minutes and five Crusaders free throws down the stretch eventually put the game out of reach.
“If we just execute and we play our game, ultimately no one in the state can beat us,” Greene said. “And it showed tonight. When we play our game and slow down and run stuff that we do, no one can play with us.”
Cofie, a Virginia signee, was named the tournament MVP after averaging 18.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game in the Crusaders’ three tournament wins over Lincoln of Tacoma (quarterfinals), Mount Spokane (semifinals) and Rainier Beach.
Cofie completed a double-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four steals in the title game.
“Man, I feel great,” he said. “I’m just proud of my team, Coach Brent, everybody.”
Eastside Catholic sophomore forward Yabi Aklog scored a game-high 28 points — including the Crusaders’ first 16 points of the game — and had nine rebounds and three steals.
“We rode their coat tails the whole way, the whole season,” Merritt said of his two forwards. “They delivered when we needed them. I couldn’t be happier.”
Greene added 16 points, including the two key 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter.
“He’s been doing it all season for us,” Merritt said.
Powers led Rainier Beach (17-11) with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dominik Robinson had 14 points and six rebounds and Maceo Rivers had 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
