State 3A/1A: Piper lifts Rainier Beach boys to title
Djuan Piper converted an off-balance jumper from just inside the foul line with 5.1 seconds remaining to lift Rainier Beach over Eastside Catholic 47-45 and earn a third straight State 3A boys championship.
Mandrell Worthy was stripped of the ball near midcourt as Eastside Catholic attempted to get a tying shot in the closing seconds.
It’s the eighth title for Rainier Beach and first time a team has won three straight titles in any of the state’s top four classifications.
Shaqquan Aaron scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to lead Rainier Beach.
Ian Christie pulled down 17 rebounds for Eastside Catholic. David Crisp finished with 10 points for Rainier Beach, eight coming at the start of the game.
3A girls
Makala Roper scored 17 points to lead Cleveland to a second straight State 3A state title with a 54-46 victory over Bishop Blanchet in Tacoma.
Cleveland won both regular season meetings between the schools by double digits, including a 75-37 blowout in January. This one wasn’t as easy.
Cleveland scored 13 points off eight turnovers by Bishop Blanchet in the first half in building a 33-25 lead.
1A boys
Tournament MVP Brady Widner scored a game-high 21 points to lead Zillah to a 52-46 win over King’s for the state championship in Yakima.
It capped a perfect season for the Leopards, who finished at 27-0. They were playing in their third championship game in the past four years, having lost in 2011 and 2012.
It was the second title for Zillah coach Doug Burge, whose team also captured the crown in 1994.
1A girls
Tournament MVP Kara Bajema scored 13 points to lead four double-figure scorers as Lynden Christian (25-3) rolled to a 55-40 win over King’s for the State 1A girls championship in Yakima.
Courtney Hollander and Sally Vlas added 11 points each, and Sara Dougan chipped in 10 as the Lyncs built an early lead they never relinquished. Hollander led the defensive effort with 13 of her team’s 43 rebounds, and Dougan pulled down eight.