3A/4A State Basketball Quarterfinal Updates
News and notes from the Tacoma Dome.
TACOMA – On a team full of stars, Dre Morris is making people notice. Only a sophomore, he is primed to be among the next group of great Rainier Beach players.
With a trip to the Class 3A state semifinals on the line Thursday night, Morris delivered. He hit 7-of-9 threes, scoring a game-high 25 points to lead Rainier Beach past Seattle Prep, 99-75.
After the game, however, Morris didn’t take any credit.
“Everybody’s got a role to play. We all come together as a team. We talk defensively, and we just get everybody involved, no matter what.”
With seniors Jalen Petty and Kaden Powers providing veteran leadership for the Vikings, Morris is working to learn as much from his “older brothers” as he can.
“I grew up with them,” Morris said. “We’ve just got a good connection.”
While Morris deflected the attention to the team, Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea had no problem sharing just how important Morris is for this year’s state title hopes — and the program’s future.
“He’s preparing for it to be his show,” Bethea said. “He’s got big shoes to fill next year. He’s stepping up. Sometimes you forget he’s a sophomore. He’s doing the right things at the right time.”
Since losing to Bellarmine Prep by two points in the regional round, the Vikings have outscored their last two opponents — Seattle Prep and Eastside Catholic — by 61 points.
“We’ve woken up since Bellarmine,” Bethea said. “Let’s just hope we have two more levels we can go.”
Petty scored 21 points for the Vikings, while sophomore Micah Ili-Meneese added 19. Niko Cristofilis led the Panthers with 24.
BOYS: Garfield 70, Bellevue 54
Before Tripp Haywood walked off the floor, he made a point to check in with Bellevue’s Nick Norah.
Because while the two Class 3A standouts are opponents on the floor, you don’t lose a friendship just because you switch schools.
Haywood, a sophomore, was one of four Bulldogs in double figures, helping lead Garfield to the state semifinals with a 70-54 win over Bellevue on Thursday night.
“It was exciting to play my old team,” Haywood said. “I just had fun, went out there and got the W. It’s always all love with those guys.”
Garfield started fast and never let Bellevue get into a rhythm offensively.
“We wanted to get off to a fast start,” Garfield coach Brandon Roy said. “I was happy with our start.”
BJ Roy Jr. scored a game-high 18 points, while Haywood (12), D-Jack Jackson (14), and Doni Burkett (11) all finished in double figures.
“We’ve had to have more balance,” Roy said. “With Tripp being hurt with a groin, then my son having an ankle [injury], and Ohmono having an ankle [injury], we’ve had to develop balance.”
With everyone contributing, the Bulldogs will face a familiar Metro League rival – Rainier Beach – in tomorrow’s semifinal.
Girls: Woodinville 69, Auburn 45
TACOMA – Woodinville has played plenty of big games at the Tacoma Dome the past few years. However, there is typically an adjustment period in the first game at the cavernous facility.
That wasn’t the case for Woodinville on Thursday night. The Falcons shot almost 52 percent in the first half, pulling out to an early lead and cruising to a 69-45 victory over Auburn.
“Today was an awesome game for sure,” Woodinville coach Scott Bullock said. “They just came out of the gate and jumped on them early. That’s a really good team.”
The Falcons, who were led by Jazz Wilkerson’s game-high 27 points, advance to tomorrow’s semifinals.
Even late in the game with a comfortable lead, Woodinville was crashing the boards and running the floor, particularly guard Sammy Harris, who pulled down a pair of offensive rebounds in the second half.
“That’s the kind of stuff that wins games,” Bullock said. “I’m just really happy for this group. They’re a good group of girls. They love each other. That’s what you play for.”
Sienna Bieler and Kamryn Wille each scored 11 points, while Hailey Quiggle finished with eight.
Boys: Puyallup 55, Mount Si 47
Mount Si has grown accustomed to wearing the bull’s-eye each year in Class 4A state tournament.
The Wildcats have advanced to the state semifinals each of the last three years, winning a state title in 2024. This year, though, the Wildcats came up just short of the semis, falling to Puyallup, 55-47, at the Tacoma Dome.
“It was a tie game going into the fourth, our kids battled,” Mount Si coach Jason Griffith said. “They got to the rim. They were move aggressive, and I felt like we just didn’t move our feet well enough.”
Playing without standout Latt Ford, the Wildcats have recently relied on different players to step up as they progressed through the tournament. On Thursday, it was Hudson Moscrip who found ways to get to the basket, scoring a team-high, 12 points.
“We’ve been a team that’s relied on different guys, and that’s OK,” Griffith said. “The identity’s shifted toward the defensive end, and I felt like we defended harder down the stretch, but we just didn’t have enough today.
Puyallup, led by 33 points from Drew Jones, advances to the state semifinals.
“Nobody’s feeling sorry for us,” Griffith said. “We’ve played each of the last six years with a bull’s-eye on our back and the kids have responded every time. I’m super proud of what they did and how they came together and how we finished the season.”
Girls: Lakeside 47, Seattle Prep 40
Willa Chinn has been talking to her coaches about taking control of the game early — not waiting for the offense to come to her.
That's exactly what the Cornell-bound senior did on Thursday, scoring a game-high 22 points to lead Lakeside to a 47-40 win over Seattle Prep at the Tacoma Dome.
"I've just been talking to my coaches about being ready to go, not waiting so long for the game to come to me," Chinn said. "I came in super ready."
With the win, Lakeside advances to the state semifinals tomorrow.
After falling to Seattle Prep in the district title game, the Lions came out with a defensive intensity that set the tone for the rest of the game.
"We love to play in the Tacoma Dome," Chinn said. "Just knowing how much it means, I'm proud of my teammates."
Grace Renners, Chinn's future teammate at Cornell, scored 19 points to lead the Panthers.
"I love Grace," Chinn said. "I'm super excited to play with her. She's a great player."
