Seattle Prep 69, Roosevelt 65
Yesterday, in a loser-out game, the Seattle Prep Panthers and the Roosevelt Roughriders battled it out at Bellevue College for a chance to extend their season and a chance to advance to the state boys 3A tournament in Tacoma.
Sensing the moment, Seattle Prep came out on fire with multiple players making contributions. The Panthers’ Niko Christofilis helped set the tone early as he poured in eight first-quarter points, while Kellen Matt knocked down a three-pointer as Seattle Prep outscored Roosevelt 18-10 during the quarter. Ismail Guyo would help Roosevelt keep pace as he made two three-point shots during the quarter to lead the Roughriders.
The second quarter turned into a showcase for Christofilis. While Roosevelt found a brief spark from Pearson Dukes and Jake Spranger, who each connected on three-point shots during an 18-point quarter, Christofilis took his game to the next level. The 6-foot-2 senior guard scored 14 points in the period, including two three-pointers, as the Panthers built a 39-28 halftime lead.
However, Roosevelt refused to let their season slip away just yet. Coming out of the halftime break, the Roughriders increased their defensive pressure and found their rhythm on offense. The Roughriders rallied behind Jason Dollar, Nick Hunnington, Sprangers and Guyo as they outscored Seattle Prep 17-15 during the third quarter. Christofilis would add four points to his total, but momentum of the game had shifted as the Panthers saw their lead was cut to single digits, 54-45, heading into the final quarter.
With everything on the line, Roosevelt gave one final push. Trailing by nine to start the fourth, the Roughriders chipped away possession by possession. Guyo, Dollar, Dukes and Sprangers fueled a late surge of points that brought Roosevelt within a single point, at 66-65, in favor of Seattle Prep with seconds remaining.
But in the closing moments, the Panthers remained strong. Christofilis, who scored nine of Seattle Prep’s 15 fourth-quarter points, continued to attack. Then, with just one second left, Matt went to the free-throw line and sealed a 69-65 victory for Seattle Prep, sending the Panthers to the next round of the district playoffs.
Christofilis finished with a game-high 32 points to lead the Panthers, while Dukes led Roosevelt with 15 points.
Photos/Aaron Allen
