Jaylen Nowell’s game-high 23 points led Garfield to a 66-51 victory over Rainier Beach as the two Seattle rivals faced off in the Class 3A state finals. Garfield, which won the 4A state championship last season, stopped the Vikings from winning their fourth consecutive title.
The two teams entered the game nearly indistinguishable. The Bulldogs, ranked 63rd in the DigitalSports National Basketball Rankings and 3rd in Washington, boasted a 26-2 record going into the contest. At 25-3, Rainier Beach was the top team in the state and 57th on the national scale. On top of that, the Washington heavyweights split the two games during the regular season.
For most of the game, the scores were level, neither team allowing the other to gain any advantage. In fact, with just 5:20 remaining the score was tied at 49 all. That is when Nowell went off, scoring 10 of his points in the final five minutes of the game. Backed by the 6-5 sophomore, the Bulldogs claimed a 15-point victory.
Nowell added on 10 rebounds for a double-double performance. Accompanying the sophomore on the score sheet was Alphonso Anderson with 17 points and 14 assists and Austin Anderson added on 13 points for the Bulldogs.
With a triumphant season coming to an emphatic conclusion, Garfield walks away with a well deserved state championship.
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