Boys Basketball -- Franklin Tops Rb After Trailing By 21

If anyone is making a list of this century's best comebacks in a high-school basketball game, Franklin's 78-72 overtime win over Rainier Beach in a nonleague boys game last night could rate a spot in the top 25.

Playing on the Vikings' home court, Franklin, 3-0 and No. 8 among the state's Class 4A teams, trailed by as many as 21 points in the third quarter. Senior wingman Alvin Snow scored 27 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and overtime to energize an improbable rally.

"He did it by carrying the team on his back," Franklin Coach Jason Kerr said, "and he did it the way we asked him to do it - by controlling the tempo, getting his teammates involved, being coachable and taking good shots."

Snow said he has been involved in big comebacks before but couldn't remember one with as much emotional intensity as this neighborhood showdown.

"We've got a lot of the bragging rights now, baby," a jubilant Snow said coming off the court. "Not all of them, but a lot of them. This is a team win. It's all about the team."

Plagued by foul trouble - Snow was called for his first before the game even started - for dunking during pregame warmup - and turnovers, Franklin fell behind 43-23 at halftime. Snow, with three fouls, played less than three minutes.

Teammate Trevor Tsuchikawa triggered the comeback by popping in back-to-back three-pointers, cutting six points off a 19-point deficit.

Snow followed with a three of his own, then blocked a shot,

retrieved the loose ball and dashed the length of the court for a layin, capping an 11-0 run in 1:59.

"We knew we weren't out of this," Snow said. "All we had to do was keep our heads up, play team basketball and keep chipping away."

The rally overshadowed a dominating first-half performance by Rainier Beach (7-2 overall, No. 2 in Class 3A). Tim Ellis had 15 of his team-high 19 points in the first half, and freshman Lodrick Stewart scored 10 of his 14.

But as Viking Coach Mike Bethea sternly reminded his players after the game, it doesn't end at haltime.

"Our players have got to understand that they've got to play two halves, not just one. We didn't have one guy who wanted to step up and carry the team in the second half. Franklin did."

Kerr came away impressed by Beach's athleticism. "They came out with a mind-set that they were going to knock us down and keep us down," he said.

"What made the difference was in the second half we made it a mid-tempo game, not an up-tempo game and, hands down, we did a much better job on the defense boards. I still believe Rainier Beach is the top 3A team in the state."

Bethea thinks such high praise might have distracted his players.

"People can talk all they want and say good things," he said. "What we have to do is prove it. We have to show we can play 32 minutes in a game and play with some heart."

Decatur 82, Liberty 50 - The Gators (1-5) broke through for their first victory of the season in the opening game of the Hoopaholics Christmas Ball at Bothell High. Tyrese Shields scored 22 points, hitting seven of 12 field goals, and Virgil Brown had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Decatur, which had a 40-23 halftime lead before outscoring Liberty 21-3 in the third quarter. Derek Swanson scored 13 points, Shawn Autry 11 points and Mykel Morrison 10 for the Patriots (1-7).

Selah 64, Federal Way 58 - Jeff Teeples scored 22 points, including a 7-for-7 effort at the foul line, and Kyle Sager had 14 points and Jason Jump 13 for Selah at the Hoopaholics Christmas Ball. Sergio Sorberanis pumped in 33 points for the Eagles, hitting 14 of 20 field goals (5 for 9 on three-pointers). Selah was 14 for 20 at the free-throw line while Federal Way was 2 for 2.

Garfield 83, Foster 56 - Ed Roy hit 14 of 22 field goals, including one three-pointer, scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for second-ranked Garfield (3-0) in the first round of the Hoopaholics Christmas Ball. Roy Smiley scored 17 points and Tre Simmons had 11 for Garfield, which led 43-23 at halftime. Terrance Austin scored 16 points and Anthony Rankin had 15 for Foster.

At Bothell 71, Mariner 40 - Four players scored in double figures and the Cougars hit 52 percent of their field goals and 19 of 24 free throws in the first-round victory of the Hoopaholics Christmas Ball. John Howard led Bothell with 14 points.

Sunnyside (Tucson) 54, Shorecrest 50 (OT) - Sunnyside hit two free throws in the last 10 seconds of regulation to force overtime, then pulled away with more foul shots in the extra period to beat the Scots in the Santa Cruz Shootout in Tucson. Shorecrest trailed 37-31 after three quarters, but rallied and took a two-point lead on on Adam Ray's three-pointer with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Mark Haner had 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for Shorecrest (0-4), which shot only .385 from the field (20 for 52). Jess LaCasse scored 10 for the Scots.

Mount Si 79, at Mount Rainier 58 - Mount Si (7-0), ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, used deadly free-throw shooting (18 of 20) and strong inside play by Chris Kaplan and Jason Arriaga to stay unbeaten in the nonleague game. The Rams (2-5) were in the game until the Wildcats went on a big run when Mount Rainier's Jason Cardenas left with a cut on his chin. Kaplan scored 20 points and Arriaga 14 for the Wildcats. Cardenas had 13 and Kelly Smith and Kalen Canaday 12 each for the Rams.

Kentlake 63, at Enumclaw 53 - Nick Emmett and Jeff Thomas each made three-point plays in the fourth quarter to help the Falcons (4-0, 4-2) hold off the Hornets (3-2, 4-2) in an SPSL North Division game. Darnell Brown hit a big three-point basket to start a Kentlake run in the final period. Emmett and Justin Zimmer each scored 12 points and Thomas and Brown had 11 each for Kentlake. Casey Hanson, a junior guard, led Enumclaw with 22 points.

At Marysville-Pilchuck 54, Auburn Riverside 35 - Kurt Engelson scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, when the Tomahawks (5-2) hit 8 of 12 free throws to pull away for a nonleague victory. Zach Reed had 15 points, including three three-pointers, and five rebounds for M-P. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter, when the Tommies outscored the Ravens 21-9. Matt Thompson led Auburn Riverside with 11 points.

Sammamish 55, at Evergreen 50 - The Totems turned a 48-47 deficit into a nonleague victory in the final 1:30, capitalizing on free throws and Wolverine turnovers. Sammamish went 4 for 4 at the foul line down the stretch. Justin Tate scored 16 points and Ethan Rohde 14 for the Totems (4-4). J.B. Stephen scored 12 points and Gerald Smiley had 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 7 steals for Evergreen (4-2).