BY GERARD BOLONG
Contributing Writer
BURIEN - Class 1A Nisqually League Seattle Christian edged out Class 4A SPSL Olympic Division Todd Beamer of Federal Way 81-78 to earn fifth place in a crowd pleasing boys basketball game of the 2017 Sterling Christmas Shootout on Thurs., Dec, 28, at Kennedy Catholic High School.
In addition to the fifth place spot, the Warriors signaled that they were ready to fight for league honors following a run through the gauntlet of higher enrollment classification schools in the non-league build up to 1A play.
"We lost to the big schools early and now we're competing with them and rebounding with them," said a confident Seattle Christian head coach Micheal Watts. "We're definitely ready for league, now."
The Thursday night fray was played at a brisk pace and came down to an exciting final exchange.
Beamer's Keli Pedibone gave the Federal Way team a final gasp with a 3-point goal as TB trailed 78-76 at 11 seconds remaining in the game.
Four seconds later, Connor Knack was fouled ahead of his two free throw conversions.
Just more than two seconds were left when William Johnson III banged home a lay in for the Titans, but SC held on and added a Zac VanderLey free throw.
Matriculating the ball smoothly around the court, SC dealt well with the Titan speed.
The teams fought evenly from the beginning of the game until Jared Cattell sank two free throws followed by a VanderLey 3-pointer.
VanderLey scored from the baseline and assisted to Knack for a 31-21 SC lead with 4:25 left until halftime.
TB retaliated to trail 37-34, but Cole McKittrick found the net from 3-point distance to show Seattle Christian ahead 40-34 at intermission time.
Quick hitting Beamer opened up a 46-40 lead until a Cattell step back jump shot pushed SC ahead 47-46 in riveting action.
The Warriors maintained two to four point edges and led 56-54 going into the fourth quarter.
SC crafted an eight point lead at one time in the final quarter and still had a 77-70 clearance with 40.2 seconds to go in advance of defining plays.
VanderLey had a titanic night, scoring 29 points to go along with 14 caroms off the glass. Cattell was stone cold solid on 27 points and four assists. Knack cleared for 14 points.
Da'lon Butler was deadly for 21 points to lead the Titan scoring. Johnson put through 19 points as Kevin Johnson added 14.
