By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
The matchup between the O’Dea Fighting Irish and the Rainier Beach Vikings was exhilarating from start to finish, with both ends of the crowd making their presence known as the noise levels were nearly deafening.
Both head coaches from each side were fully aware of the challenge that lay ahead, understanding the importance of this specific game to both teams.
Rainier Beach started the first quarter on fire, led by guard Kaden Powers, who scored 9 points, and Maceo Rivers. The Vikings quickly jumped out to a 19-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. Defensively, Rainier Beach made it difficult for the Fighting Irish to gain momentum, stifling O’Dea’s offense. Malcolm Clark managed to score 5 of his team’s 9 points in the quarter, as the Fighting Irish struggled to find their stride.
The second quarter had a similar feel to the first, with both teams battling evenly. O’Dea’s Antone Araujo hit a three-point shot to maintain momentum for the
Fighting Irish, while Malcolm Clark, who scored 6 of his team’s 8 second-quarter points, kept them in the game. Guard Quincy Brown’s lone two-point shot contributed to their 8 total points in the quarter, leaving them trailing the Vikings 28-17 at halftime.
The Fighting Irish, showing frustration going into halftime, realized they needed to intensify their efforts to stay in the game.
The third quarter saw the Vikings keep their foot on the gas. Kaden Powers hit a three-point shot and a duo of jump shots, while teammate Nyale Robinson scored five points, extending Rainier Beach’s lead to 45-29 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was a desperate time for the Fighting Irish as they faced the end of their season. Led by Brian Webster, the Fighting Irish attempted a rally. Webster scored seven points in the quarter, including a couple of free throws, a deep three-point shot, and a jump shot, giving his team some momentum. Malcolm Clark and Breylon Webb also contributed as O’Dea tried to cut into the lead.
Unfortunately for O’Dea, the Vikings finished the game strong. Powers continued his excellent shooting from the outside, while Maceo Rivers hit a deep three-point shot, a jump shot, and a dunk, diminishing any hope for a comeback by the Fighting Irish. The Vikings cruised to a 59-46 victory, securing a spot in the state championship game on Saturday.
Kaden Powers, the game’s MVP and WIAA Sportsmanship award winner, praised his team’s collective effort, emphasizing their focus on team success over individual statistics. He finished the game with an impressive 28 points.
Malcolm Clark led the O’Dea Fighting Irish with 16 points.
With this win, the Vikings will now take on the Eastside Catholic Crusaders in the state championship game on Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.
