What a Finish! Looks like Another Fun Metro League Season

Seattle Prep's Nirvaan Misra helps the Panthers rally against Eastside Catholic, more.

SAMMAMISH, Wa. – Seattle Prep trailed last year’s defending Class 3A state champions by five with less than 30 seconds to play on Tuesday.

The Panthers (3-1) had trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter, but it looked like the rally was going to come up just short. Time was not on their side.

Then, trailing by three with 9.4 seconds to play, senior Nirvaan Misra hit a three-pointer and was fouled—a play set up by fellow senior Beckham King.

The three tied the game.

“I saw Beckham get the steal, and I was like, I’ve got to hit this,” Misra said. “I saw it was a 2-on-1 over here, so I was like, I can’t swing it. I know I’m going to make this one.”

Misra missed the free throw. Then it was senior Nick Schanno’s turn to deliver his own heroics, hitting the second of two free throws to give Prep a 74-73 win.

“This is huge because we’ve been losing to all these top teams the past few years,” Misra said. “We had a tough one against Beach, but we knew we had to come back and keep our head up. Winning this one was huge. It’s going to give us momentum for the rest of the season.”

As Misra mentioned, it looks like another strong year across the Metro League. While the win was a big one for Prep, Eastside Catholic (1-1) has plenty of talent. Senior Alex Elston had a strong night, particularly driving to the basket and finishing at the rim.

For a full game photo gallery, click the link.

A Freshman to Be Reckoned with

Get used to hearing Tytan McNeal’s name. The 6-foot-6 freshman showed off his ability to shoot from distance, in addition to being a force in the post. McNeal is transitioning back to basketball after an impressive year as a defensive end for the football team, where he harassed opposing quarterbacks all season. During the Crusaders’ run to the Class 3A semifinals, McNeal was one of those players you couldn’t help but notice.

Kriley Looks to Build Consistency at Prep

When Dan Kriley accepted the head coaching job at Seattle Prep, he knew he was inheriting a senior-laden team. He came in with one primary goal: establish consistency.

“It’s just getting to know these guys,” Kriley said before Tuesday’s win over Eastside Catholic. “I was fortunate enough to spend a little time with them over the summer. It’s just a group that hasn’t been that consistent over the past few years. There’s been a changing of the guard, just testing them out.”

With more than two decades of experience, Kriley is no stranger to the Metro League, having recently led West Seattle to back-to-back state tournament appearances.

The former Seattle U women’s basketball coach has the Panthers off to a strong start, with the team showing they can rally around each other and find ways to win close games.

However, this is only the beginning for Kriley and the Panthers.

“It’s just holding their feet to the fire,” Kriley said. “I have to be consistent every day and say, ‘This is the way it’s going to be done.’ It’s going to take a few weeks. We’re not there yet.”

Catching up with Nevada Linebacker Austin Harnetiaux

This was not meant to be a Seattle Prep-heavy post. I went to Eastside Catholic planning to feature the Crusaders and catch up with Kriley – a two-story, one-trip scenario.

Then the Panthers pulled off their final-second heroics, and that plan changed. I also noticed Seattle Prep grad Austin Harnetiaux was in the stands to watch his brother, Leo, a sophomore.

So, I went over to say hello, starting the conversation by asking the Nevada linebacker what he thought of Seattle Prep’s run to the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

“It was awesome,” Harnetiaux said. “Coach (Aaron) Maul invited me and a couple of other guys from former teams to talk with the team. It was great to watch them get that far. Congrats to them on a historic season.

“You want them to be competitive every year, and you want them to go further than you did, because those moments are so special. We were just proud and juiced up for them.”

Since Harnetiaux was still in-season, he had to address the team via Zoom. Harnetiaux started his college career as a walk-on with Washington. Now a junior, he transferred to Nevada to get a chance for more playing time.

“I got a lot of good time under me this year, played a lot, and had a really solid season. The name of college football right now is just opportunity—go where you can play. I had to put that in my pocket and run with it. I’m very thankful for my time at UW, and I’m happy to turn the page and move forward.”