3A boys: Rainier Beach whips O’Dea

TACOMA – Nkeil Nelson stoked a quick start for Rainier Beach and the Vikings never looked back as they beat O’Dea 70-49 to capture the Class 3A boys basketball title Saturday.

It was the fourth state championship in the last five years for Rainier Beach and ninth in school history.

Nelson scored 10 of his 24 points as Rainier Beach jumped to a 16-2 lead midway through the first quarter and didn’t look back. Nelson had 21 points at halftime.

O’Dea made a push to start the second half, going on a 9-2 run, but Rainier Beach answered and the Irish weren’t able to get within 16 the rest of the contest.

Michael Carter finished with 21 points for O’Dea.

It is the third meeting between the teams this season. Rainier Beach won the regular-season contest and O’Dea was the victor in the Metro League semifinals.