Eastside Catholic wins 2023-24 3A state championship title
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders boys basketball team brought home the 3A state championship title on Saturday when they defeated the Rainier Beach Vikings, 65-57.
Setting the tone for the night, at 6-foot-10, Jacob Cofie used every inch of his height to win the tipoff to start the game. Maceo Rivers scored first for the Vikings, followed by a 3-pointer by Nyale Robinson, securing the early lead for Rainier Beach. With game night jitters, the Crusaders struggled to find the net initially until Yabi Aklog got them started, sinking the team’s first 2-pointer. When both teams finally settled into a groove, they kept the score even, basket for basket, until the end of the first quarter when a free throw gave the Crusaders a 14-13 slight advantage. It was going to be a back-and-forth battle.
The second quarter passed similarly, with both teams trading the lead with alternating 2-point baskets. Breaking the rhythm of the game, Crusader Kayden Greene found a last second opening and managed to create a gap in the scores just before halftime with a surprise 3-pointer to enter the break with the lead, 27-23.
After halftime, both teams returned with renewed energy. The brief rest sparked Greene, who once again managed to increase the Crusader advantage with consecutive 3-pointers, bringing the score to 35-25—the greatest point disparity of the night. But the Vikings were not going down without a fight. With a combination of free throws, 2-pointers, and a 3-pointer by Koodzi Ross, Rainier Beach closed the gap, 44-41. With seconds remaining in the third quarter, Kaden Powers got off a nothing-but-net 3-pointer for the Vikings that tied the score, 44-44.
With the score tied to start the nail-biting final quarter, it was anyone’s championship for the taking. With aggressive play, Aklog immediately gained the lead for the Crusaders. The Vikings knew that if they wanted the victory, they would need to answer each basket with one of their own.
Yabi Aklog helps the Crusaders overpower the Rainier Beach Vikings for the state 3A championship title (photo by Matthew Mead)
But the Crusaders were determined to keep their lead, led by Greene—who at this point had already made a name for himself with consistent 3-pointers throughout the game—as he continued to deliver with two more 3-point buckets. Those points proved crucial for Eastside Catholic, as they allowed the team to disrupt the Viking momentum and eventually gain a more comfortable 10-point lead.
In the end, while Rivers scored a final 3-pointer for his team, Rainier Beach was unable to close the gap. Spectators were on the edge of their seats as time outs and fouls peppered the final three minutes. The exciting back-and-forth championship game ended with a Crusader win, 65-57, and a hard-fought state 3A championship title for Eastside Catholic.
The Crusaders ended their winning 2023-24 season, including state championship play, with an impressive 20-8 record.
