MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions celebrates Garfield High School

The 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Washington on Thursday, May 3 to recognize Garfield (Seattle, Wash.) High School and its boys basketball team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended Rainier Beach 72-63 in the WIAA Class 3A state championship contest, the 28-2 Bulldogs claimed Garfield's first boys state basketball championship, earned the No. 24 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings and played their way into the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Writers' Poll at No. 19!

MaxPreps and the Washington Army National Guard joined forces in recognizing the Bulldogs for all of their accomplishments at an early morning school assembly honoring various clubs and Bulldog sports teams. As the DJ blasted music, Garfield's student body poured into the gymnasium in anticipation of the presentation of the Army National Guard national ranking trophy at the conclusion of the celebration.

Once everyone had taken their seats and the varying clubs and teams had received their due, head football coach Joey Thomas introduced MaxPreps representative Todd Gowin, who recapped Garfield's tremendous basketball season and explained the MaxPreps rankings system for the Tour of Champions. Gowin then thanked the Army National Guard for its ongoing partnership and invited Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Ossman of the Washington Army National Guard to the floor for the long awaited trophy presentation.

SFC Ossman talked briefly about teamwork and the pursuit of excellence, shared character traits of a state championship basketball team and the Army National Guard, before presenting assistant head coach Jamaal Williams and the Bulldogs with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner that will remind Bulldog Nation of the 2018 state championship for years to come. Williams was truly grateful as he accepted the trophy and expressed his gratitude before thanking MaxPreps and the Washington Army National Guard for the prestigious award and national recognition. At the end of the presentation more than 1,000 students, staff and parents roared with excitement at this perfect ending to a great season for the boys basketball team.

Congratulations to head coach Brandon Roy, his entire coaching staff and the Bulldogs on all of the hard work that led up to the national ranking and another successful stop on the 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard. Way to go Bulldogs!

Click here to view the Garfield TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Basketball TOC, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.