By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
With a Metro Championship within reach, the Garfield Bulldogs (18-0) would face a tough task in Seattle Prep, who they beat earlier in the year on their home floor. The Panthers (17-5), coming off a come-from-behind, double-overtime win over Rainier Beach, were up to the task of handing the Bulldogs their first loss of the season and claiming the Metro League title in the process.
Riding high off the momentum of their win over Rainier Beach, Seattle Prep threw the first punch at Garfield. Braden Smith, Tyler Myrus, and Christian King had their fingerprints all over the game from opening tip off, especially offensively. Whether it was taking their defender one-on-one, making open three-pointers, or scoring in the post, Seattle Prep’s ‘Big 3’ were effective and efficient, as the Panthers held a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Seattle Prep opened the second quarter with 7-0 scoring run, as a three pointer by Smith followed by a Myrus layup forced Garfield to take a timeout. Regrouping during the timeout, Garfield’s Koren Johnson, Tremaine Guidry, Raphiel Justice and Sherell McCullum, Jr. gave the Bulldogs a much needed spark.
A layup by Justice, followed by a pair of free throws by Johnson, a steal plus the finish by Guidry, and back-to-back layups in the post from McCullum helped Garfield stop Seattle Prep’s momentum, as they faced a 32-24 deficit heading into halftime.
Instead of settling for jumpshots to start the second half, Garfield began attacking the rim as McCullum finished everything in the post and Jaylin Stewart began finishing plays with contact as the Bulldogs began to settle in during the second half. Although the Bulldogs were battling back, Seattle Prep still controlled the tempo, within the first three minutes of the third quarter the Panthers opened up a 12-point lead forcing another timeout by Garfield.
Once again, the Bulldogs regrouped and executed after the timeout. Johnson found Kenzel Massey in the corner for a three pointer to ignite a run by Garfield. McCullum continued dominating the post, Stewart began getting to the free throw line, Jazel Brown’s began making thing difficult for Seattle Prep with his on-the-ball pressure and Johnson forced three turnovers as momentum began to swing in the Bulldogs favor.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Johnson picked up his fourth foul for the Bulldogs and immediately received a technical foul that left teammates, coaches, and fans in complete shock.
Having to play the final quarter without their Metro League Most Valuable Player in Johnson, it was time for some of his teammates to step up if they wanted to capture the league trophy.
Garfield started the fourth quarter on 7-0 scoring run, Massey converted on a three-point play, McCullum sank two free throws, and Stewart had a dunk that forced Seattle Prep to take a timeout, as their lead was cut down to one.
“I knew I had to step up,” said Stewart after the game. “I’m a leader on this team and with Koren out I had to be there for the team.”
Following the timeout, Seattle Prep’s Smith ended the run by making two free throws. But the stage was set as Garfield turned up their defensive pressure. With guards Justice, Guidry, and Brown’s on-the-ball pressure the Bulldogs flustered the Panthers and gave them a road map to victory.
“We had to make the adjustments and guard straight up,” said Justice when asked about their defense in the second half compared to the first.
With Seattle Prep leading 51-50 with under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Stewart hit a wide open three to give Garfield a 53-51 lead. Prep answered immediately with a layup to tie the game at 53. Justice answered the call by hitting a difficult free throw line shot to give Garfield the lead once again and from that moment on Garfield didn’t let up.
Guidry, who also was in foul trouble and played limited minutes, helped solidify Garfield lead down the stretch. Grabbing a rebound in which he got fouled, Guidry made two free throws, and on the next possession he made an open three pointer, extending the Bulldogs lead to 63-58 with 1:12 left.
Guidry’s three, another Stewart dunk, and a layup by Justice were the final points of the game and once the final buzzer sounded Garfield was victorious.
Trailing for all of the three quarters, Garfield was pushed to their limit and still managed to win 67-60 and were crowned 2021-22 Metro League Champions.
With the win, Garfield Improved to 19-0 and will wait to see who they play in district tournament next week.
Pictorial Highlights of Garfield vs Seattle Prep – Metro League Championship
