By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Rainier Beach High School celebrated its 2025 Class 3A Boys Basketball State Championship with a school-wide assembly on Wednesday, recognizing the team’s achievement and its place in the school’s long-standing tradition of basketball excellence. The Vikings secured their 10th state title by defeating Edmonds-Woodway 68-48 at the Tacoma Dome, capping off a season marked by hard work, perseverance, and team unity.
The event began with a hallway procession, where students, faculty, and community members lined up on both sides, cheering as the championship team made its way to the gymnasium. The atmosphere reflected the pride and excitement of the Rainier Beach community. Once inside, students gathered in class sections, teachers and administrators-maintained order, and the school’s cheerleaders led the crowd in welcoming the players.
Among those in attendance were former Rainier Beach basketball stars and NBA veterans Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford, who returned to celebrate the team’s accomplishment and support the next generation of Viking athletes. The assembly recognized all members of the championship team, including standout players Jaylen Petty, Jaden Powers, and Rico Robinson.
Petty, a senior guard, spoke about the journey that led to the team’s championship win.
“This year was amazing because we went through a lot of trials and tribulations,” Petty said. “We didn’t think we could lose, but we came together as a brotherhood, and every game we got closer and closer. It didn’t matter who scored. What mattered was winning together.”
Powers, a senior point forward, reflected on the season and the challenges the team had to overcome.
“At the beginning of the season, we were one of the favorites. It wasn’t easy, but through competitive practices, we came together,” Powers said. “The fact that we won made it awesome, made it amazing.”
Rainier Beach’s Head Coach Mike Bethea, who has now led the school to nine state championships, shared his thoughts on what it took to win.
“Reality is starting to set in now on what we accomplished,” Bethea said. “A lot of people can look at this and say, ‘This is what RB is supposed to do,’ or ‘It’s an easy path.’ It is not an easy path. We look back at all the hard work these kids put in—we’re talking about starting last May. They believed in the system, we had our ups and downs, and at the end of the day, I’m just so proud of what these guys did because winning state is a monumental task.”
Robinson, a Rainier Beach alum and former NBA player, spoke about what makes the school’s program special and why its success continues.
“We are a winning program here at Rainier Beach,” Robinson said. “The beautiful thing is that we’re a public school. Kids come from all areas of the South End, and it’s a beautiful thing that Coach Mike brings this together so well. He assembles different skill sets and personalities, and we build this from the ground up, coming together to do one thing: win. We put Seattle and Rainier Beach on the national stage.”
Rainier Beach’s basketball legacy is well established, with ten state titles and 13 runner-up finishes. The program has also produced several players who have gone on to play in college and the NBA, making it one of the most successful high school basketball programs in Washington state history. With that level of success, many consider Rainier Beach a basketball dynasty.
Robinson pointed to the program’s consistent success as proof of its status.
“We are nationally known, and that’s what we wanted,” Robinson said. “We wanted to build a program and a strong foundation, and we did that. The state championships speak for themselves. It’s crazy because Coach Mike has 13 second-place finishes—so he could have won all those other years too. He is probably one of the winningest coaches ever. They should put a statue outside for that man.”
The Rainier Beach basketball program is known for its player development, preparing athletes for success at the next level. Over the years, the school has produced players who have earned college scholarships, competed at Division I schools, and even gone on to have NBA careers. The program’s ability to develop talent and maintain a high standard of competition has drawn attention not only from the Seattle area but also from national scouting circles.
Crawford, who played in the NBA for more than 20 years, spoke about what has kept Rainier Beach’s basketball program at such a high level.
“Yes! If I’m going to be honest,” Crawford said. “My personal belief is it starts with Coach Mike. Players have come and gone, but he and his staff have been the one constant. This community has been the other constant.
“So, I hope when people see Beach win, they look at it as all of us winning. Everybody in the community, everybody pours into these kids—whether it’s helping with homework, offering words of encouragement, or coaching them on the court—we all win together. And I think that’s what makes Rainier Beach special.”
For many in the Rainier Beach community, the basketball program represents more than just wins and championships. It serves as a source of pride, inspiration, and opportunity for young athletes. The discipline, teamwork, and resilience instilled through the program have helped many players excel on and off the court.
The school’s basketball success has also brought greater recognition to Seattle high school sports, showing that public school programs can compete at the highest level. Unlike some private schools that recruit athletes from different areas, Rainier Beach has built its legacy through local talent and strong coaching.
As the event concluded, the team received a standing ovation, marking not only a celebration of a championship but a recognition of the commitment, leadership, and history of excellence that define Rainier Beach basketball.
Source: Seattle Medium
