The top-ranked team in Washington and home to the nation’s No. 1 high school player, Rainier Beach showed why it remains the team to beat in the state, cruising to a 101-54 victory over the West Seattle Wildcats on Friday night in a Metro League matchup.
Rainier Beach improved to 12-1 overall and 7-0 in league play, continuing to assert its dominance in the Metro League following a nationally ranked start to the season. West Seattle entered the game with a 3-6 record (1-4 Metro) and looked to find some consistency against the state’s most high-powered squad.
Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked high school player in the country, wasted no time making his presence felt. The 6-foot-8 forward opened the game with a quick bucket and poured in eight of Rainier Beach’s first 15 points. His early offensive burst helped spark a 7-0 start that forced a quick timeout from the West Seattle bench.
The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run of their own, including scores from Gavin Rosellini and Sullivan Pond, briefly cutting the deficit to a single point. But Rainier Beach countered with an 8-2 run to close the first quarter, capped by a pair of baskets from Micah Ili-Menesse and shot by Stokes, giving the Vikings a 15-10 lead after the first quarter.
Rainier Beach opened the second quarter with renewed energy on both ends. JJ Crawford ignited the offense by hitting back-to-back three-point shots, and Stokes followed with a strong bucket to stretch the lead. The Vikings’ full-court pressure forced several West Seattle turnovers, leading to transition buckets from Wesley Armstrong and Marques Ili-Menesse. By the time West Seattle called another timeout midway through the quarter, Rainier Beach had built a 31-16 advantage.
The Vikings continued to roll, getting contributions from across the lineup. Stokes finished through contact in the lane, and Reyna converted at the free-throw line to help push the lead to over 20 points. Crawford’s third three point shot of the half helped cap a 15-2 scoring run as Rainier Beach went into halftime with a commanding 44-21 lead.
In the third quarter, Rainier Beach kept its foot on the gas. Stokes opened the period with a pair of finishes at the rim, while Armstrong added a score. Crawford remained a consistent threat from the perimeter, and the Vikings continued to get stops on defense. Despite some tough finishes from West Seattle’s Pond and Sayles, the Vikings’ lead swelled to 71-40 by the end of the quarter.
Rainier Beach closed the game by hitting the century mark in the fourth. Stokes added a few more buckets in the final period, while players like Louis Harris, Kam Babbs and entered the scoring column. The Vikings maintained defensive pressure and efficient ball movement until the final horn.
With Stokes drawing most of the attention, Rainier Beach’s depth was once again on display. Crawford, who finished with 19 points, was a consistent presence on both ends. Reyna and Armstrong contributed with hustle plays, rebounds and transition defense, helping sustain the Vikings’ high level of play from start to finish.
Rainier Beach remained unbeaten in Metro League play and will look to continue its run next week. West Seattle, still in search of its first league win, will try to regroup as the regular season continues.
Key performers for Rainier Beach
Tyran Stokes: 30 points
JJ Crawford: 19 points
Achillies Reyna: 12 points
Micah Ili-Menesse: 12 points
Wesley Armstrong: 8 points
Marques Ili-Menesse: 8 points
Kellon Hightower: 5 points
Tariq Shabazz: 3 points
Kam Babbs: 2 points
Louis Harris: 2 points
