Metro League Reigns at State 3A Hoops

First: Let us congratulate the Cleveland High girls’ basketball team, which yesterday won their first-ever state tournament game. In the 83-year history of the school! “Eagles! Eagles” chants filled the Tacoma Dome parking lot as Cleveland fans filed out post-game. Pretty cool. Cleveland will play Shorecrest tonight at 8:30 p.m. for a spot in the state semifinals.

You know you’ll be rooting for Cleveland in this game, as KIRO right-wing talker Dori Monson is one of Shorecrest’s assistants. I’m surprised Monson is in favor of government-funded athletics. Shouldn’t the kids pay their own way, like the orphaned children Monson pilloried on his show last week? I digress.

Other Seattle schools shared Cleveland’s success. Five Metro league teams advanced to today’s quarterfinals, with only one suffering a loss. Franklin was the only loser–but with their three top scorers being underclassmen, I suspect the Quakers will exact some non-violent revenge in next year’s tourney.

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Why the Metro League success? From watching O’Dea’s a dominant win over Mt. Rainier, I will tell you: The speed of the game. Mt. Rainier seemed completely unprepared for the speed of O’Dea’s passing, their quickness on defense, and the way they swarmed to rebounds. Irish guard Devante Williams, who may be the best shooter in the tournament, hit 4-7 from three, destroying the Rams’ zone defense.

O’Dea will play Spokane’s Shadle Park tonight at 8:30 p.m. I suspect the 509ers will give O’Dea a little more trouble; the Irish are susceptible to teams with a good inside game.

Other city teams who’ll play in today’s quarters…

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Holy Names girls: Crushed Yelm 60-33. Check out this line from Cougars’ star junior wing Erika Johnson–19 points and 12 rebounds in 17 minutes. Yipes. No wonder she’s one of the top college recruits in her class. Holy Names plays Prairie today at 3:30 p.m.

Rainier Beach boys: Beat Bremerton 67-63. Looks like a close one, but it really wasn’t. Beach led by as many as 17 before a late Bremerton run. Also, the Vikings shot just 3-19 from three. They’ll play Union High of Camas at 5 p.m.

Seattle Prep girls: Beat Bonney Lake 45-39. Nate McMillan’s daughter Brittany, who talked to Dad on the phone before the game, had a bit of a rough outing with 7 turnovers, but led the Panthers with 11 rebounds. Markswoman Kari Luttinen led Prep with 13. They face last year’s runner-ups, Shadle Park, today at 5 p.m.

So–get down to Tacoma and watch some hoops. Tickets are $10, parking is $8, a program is $6. It all goes to the kids (I assume). Eat before you leave, the food at the Tacoma Dome is uniquely horrible, even for a sports venue. And you can’t bring food in, and you can’t leave and come back.