Ranked No. 19 nationally by MaxPreps, Rainier Beach (18-1) is coming off a 103-63 win over Roosevelt (Seattle). Top-rated senior
Tyran Stokes leads the Vikings with averages of nearly 35 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists per game. A leading candidate for MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, the 6-foot-8 wing went off for 50 points earlier this season in a 100-72 victory over Seattle Prep (Seattle).
How to watchDate: Friday, Feb. 6
Location: Eastside Catholic High School | Sammamish, Wash.
Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. PT
Streaming: MaxPreps |
YouTubeBroadcast team: Jeff Kurtz, Aaron Williams
J.J. Crawford, a 6-4 freshman and son of former NBA standout Jamal Crawford, reportedly sprained his ankle in the first quarter of a win last week over Garfield (Seattle) and his status for the MaxPreps Game of the Week is unknown. The younger Crawford is averaging 19 points per game.
Rainier Beach, the defending Class 3A state champion, is riding a 13-game win streak with a Tuesday contest with West Seattle (Seattle) before the Eastside Catholic showdown. The Vikings are scoring nearly 90 points per game while allowing just 64 per night.
Eastside Catholic (13-6) is ranked No. 20 in the state and gave Rainier Beach one of its toughest tests of the season in early January when the Vikings beat the Crusaders 85-74.
Senior
Yabi Aklog, a 6-11 senior, leads Eastside Catholic along with sophomores
Tytan McNeal and
Steven Sun. Head coach Brent Merritt has led the program to two state titles in 11 seasons, including 2024 when the Crusaders beat Rainier Beach in the final.
Head coach Mike Bethea has led Rainier Beach to 10 state titles and produced a long line of stars including NBA players Doug Christie, Jamal Crawford, Dejounte Murray and Nate Robinson.