Prep Basketball / Metro League Boys Tournament -- Rainier Beach Runs Past O'dea -- King Sparks Decisive Run As Vikings Win Metro Title

David King, a 285-pound force in the middle for Rainier Beach, scored six critical points in a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to lead the Vikings past defending state champion O'Dea 71-61 last night in the 3A Metro League championship game.

King, 6-foot-5 senior nicknamed "Big Swirley," finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds as fifth-ranked Beach (20-1) won its first Metro title since 1986. The Vikings won the state AA crown in 1988 and their goal is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that accomplishment with another title.

"We feel we're the best team in the state," King said. "We just do what our coaches say - play hard, play smart and have fun."

The entertaining game attracted 2,700 fans to Seattle Pacific University. The marquee attractions were the two seniors considered the best in the state - O'Dea's UW-bound Doug Wrenn and Beach newcomer Jamal Crawford. Both seem capable of bruising their elbows on the rim.

Wrenn, a 6-7 wing, scored 16 points on six-for-16 field-goal shooting (including four thunderous dunks), blocked three shots and had two assists and two turnovers.

Crawford, a smooth 6-4 senior guard playing only his first season of organized prep basketball, made only five of 22 shots from the field. He had three assists, three steals and two blocks and finished with 17 points.

King's performance proved pivotal.

With 3:50 to play, King put back a rebound for a 56-49 lead then repeated the move with 3:09 left. His short hook shot with 2:30 left gave Beach a decisive 60-51 advantage.

Phillip Heath of Rainier Beach, who will play for the University of Denver next year, led all scorers with 18 points. O'Dea's Kevin Burleson, who will play for Minnesota, scored 17 points.

Beach Coach Mike Bethea called the triumph the biggest of his life.

O'Dea Coach Phil Lumpkin, whose Irish teams had won the past three Metro titles and state crowns in 1993 and 1997, said the difference was "they probably were able to play their game more often than we were able to play ours."

The loss halted a 17-game winning streak for third-ranked O'Dea (19-3). The Irish had suffered December losses at Beach - 68-63 in the league opener - and to 4A Franklin.

Beach will begin district play at Ingraham High School Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. against the Seamount No. 2 team. O'Dea faces the KingCo No. 2 team at the same time at Sammamish High School.

OTHER GAMES

Seattle Prep 55, Blanchet 52 (OT) - Prep (14-9) claimed third place in the Metro tournament. Pat Hopps of Blanchet sent the game into overtime with a basket with 20 seconds left.

In overtime, Blanchet was outscored 6-3. The Braves (11-12) had two shots blocked and made just one of five shots - a three-pointer by Mike Broom.

Senior Michael Henderson scored five of Prep's six overtime points, beginning with a three-pointer on the first possession.

Henderson and sophomore point guard Shea Robinson led all scorers with 16 points each. Robinson scored 10 of his points in the third quarter.

Prep will play the No. 1 team from the KingCo Conference (probably Mercer Island) Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Bellevue Community College. Blanchet will play a loser-out game against Seamount No. 5 at Renton High School at 4:45 p.m.

Chief Sealth 58, Eastside Catholic 52 - Young Eastside Catholic played without its best player, 6-8 junior Andrew Coates, who suffered a knee injury in Thursday's win over Ballard.

Sealth (13-6) led 44-42 entering the final quarter and outscored the Crusaders 10-1 in the first seven minutes of the final period.

Jermaine Smith led the winners with 16 points.

EC (13-10) will play a "pigtail" game Monday against the No. 6 team from the KingCo Conference for a district berth. Coach Pat McCarthy said he didn't know if Coates, who averages 18 points and 13 rebounds, would be able to play.

Chief Sealth, as Metro's No. 5 entry, will play a loser-out game against Seamount No. 3 Tuesday at Sammamish at 4:45 p.m.