TACOMA — The Stanwood boys basketball team ran into a buzzsaw, to say the least.
University of Washington-bound Michael Porter Jr. and No. 1-seed Nathan Hale, the nation’s top-ranked team according to multiple outlets, showcased their elite talent while handing No. 7-seed Stanwood an 86-63 loss in a Class 3A state quarterfinal Thursday night in the Tacoma Dome.
But the Spartans battled to the end, leaving Stanwood coach Zach Ward proud of his team’s effort.
“I’m happy that our players were not star-struck when they were out there,” Ward said. “I think maybe some other people on the court were. I’m proud of how our kids played. There was no give-up. We competed right to the end. That’s why we’re down here. I don’t know what the percentages of beating them were. Probably not high, obviously.”
The loss sends Stanwood (22-4) to the consolation bracket, where the Spartans will play a loser-out game against No. 11-seed Seattle Prep at 12:15 Friday. With a win, Stanwood would secure a trophy and advance to Saturday’s fourth/sixth-place game.
“I hope they feel the same as I do — that they’re walking out of this with their heads held high and proud, and that (Friday) they’re battling,” Ward said.
Porter Jr., ESPN’s top-ranked senior recruit, led unbeaten Hale (27-0) with 36 points, 15 rebounds and several highlight-reel dunks. That included a SportsCenter-worthy play in the second quarter, when teammate P.J. Fuller lobbed a fast-break pass off the backboard to Porter Jr. for an alley-oop slam.
The 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American also recorded a pair of massive blocks and displayed his smooth shooting stroke.
“He’s a great high-school player,” Ward said. “To be able to do what he does at 6-9 — stuff around the perimeter — that’s really impressive.”
Fuller, a sophomore, added 19 points and seven rebounds. University of Washington commit Jontay Porter, a 6-foot-9 junior, had 13 points and three blocks for Hale. Both Fuller and Porter are ranked on ESPN’s list of top-100 players for their respective classes.
Stanwood senior Chase Strieby scored a team-high 17 points and senior AJ Martinka added 12 points for the Spartans.
Porter Jr. began Hale’s offensive fireworks with 11 first-quarter points — including a one-handed slam off a backcourt steal — as the Raiders stormed to an early 20-6 lead. Then after Stanwood cut the deficit to seven points early in the second quarter, Hale rattled off a 16-1 run to build a commanding 36-14 advantage.
But the Spartans never quit, trimming the margin to 17 points midway through the third quarter and ending with a 23-point loss.
That’s better than many of Hale’s opponents have fared — the Raiders have a 25.3-point average victory margin, even while facing an arduous schedule that’s included two nationally ranked out-of-state teams and multiple games against in-state powerhouses Garfield and Rainier Beach.
“I’m happy these kids get to play those guys,” Ward said. “I told someone right before the game (that) they’re not going to remember 10 years from now what the score was.
“They played them, they competed and they can probably point at a couple of them (in the future) and say, ‘I played against him.’ That’s what this stuff’s about. And to learn how to compete — and I think they did that tonight.”
Nathan Hale went 3-18 last year and finished last in the Metro League, but the Raiders were bolstered this season by seven transfers, including the Porter brothers and Fuller. Also among the transfers are former Snohomish County players Freddy Brown III (Marysville Pilchuck) and Tre’var Holland (Edmonds-Woodway).
Hale is coached by former University of Washington standout and three-time NBA All-Star Brandon Roy, who’s in his first season at the program’s helm.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.