Rainier Beach wins fifth state title

SEATTLE – Rainier Beach is back on top of Class 3A – just where they expect to be.

Nyandigisi Moikobu scored the Vikings’ first six of points of the fourth quarter, and Rainier Beach turned back every Lakes rally for a 53-45 win and the State 3A boys basketball title on Saturday night at Bank of America Arena.

Moikobu’s first basket with 3:49 left was the first points of the fourth quarter and gave the Vikings a 41-37 lead. He scored moments later for a six-point Rainier Beach advantage and the Lancers could not recover.

It’s the fifth state title for Rainier Beach (29-1), which won championships in 1988, 1998, 2002 and 2003.

Moikobu scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter, but Mike Ladd carried the Vikings. Ladd had 17 points, including a steal and dunk at the end of the third quarter that gave Rainier Beach a 39-37 lead they would not relinquish.

Jermaine Kearse and Kavario Middleton led the Lancers (25-2) with 14 points apiece. But Lakes missed all eight 3-point attempts and Middleton had one field goal in the second half.

Lakes held a 29-26 lead 1:33 into the third, but Ladd answered with a dunk for Rainier Beach, and he closed the quarter with a flurry, scoring the final seven points for the Vikings, to take a 39-37 lead to the fourth.

Lakes closed to 45-43 on Middleton’s three-point play with 2:17 left in the fourth. After a Vikings’ miss, Kearse was called for an offensive foul and Ababe Dimisse scored for Rainier.

Auburn Riverside 48, Kennedy 40: Future Washington State guard Katie Grad scored nine points and dished out two assists to lead the Ravens (25-3) past the Lancers (24-3) for their second consecutive 3A title.