Andre Lewis barreled out of his crouch position, and put on a move any NFL free safety would sign off on.
In the final seconds of Curtis High’s emotional 70-66 overtime victory over top-ranked Garfield in the Class 4A boys’ basketball semifinals, Lewis read the eyes of Torrence Baker, who tried hitting teammate and star forward Tucker Haymond near midcourt on a do-or-die inbound pass.
Lewis saw it first, broke to the basketball and collected it in his waiting hands while colliding with Haymond.
“I jumped it quicker,” the well-built Lewis said.
A Garfield player was called for an intentional foul, and Lewis made both free throws to secure the Vikings’ victory.
So when asked if he ever played football, the 6-foot-3 Lewis said only for a brief time.
“I played at Pioneer Middle School. I was a quarterback,” Lewis said. “Once I got to high school, I didn’t do it.”
Said Curtis point guard Dominic Robinson, “He could be a linebacker. That’s how big he is.”
A year ago, Lewis was on the Lakes High basketball team. But Lancers coach JoJo Rodriguez resigned in April, and the teenager sat down with his parents and Rodriguez and assessed what his next move should be.
He decided to transfer to Curtis, and won his appeal to play for the Vikings’ varsity team this season.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Lewis said. “We’ve all talked a lot about making it this far.”
SEAHAWKS CONNECTION
Watching how efficient yet powerful D.J. Fenner is on the basketball court for the Seattle Prep Panthers, it’s a wonder he would ever consider another sport.
But considering who his father is – former nine-year NFL tailback Derrick Fenner, who was drafted by Seattle in 1989 and scored 15 touchdowns for the Seahawks in 1990 – the next-generation Fenner also considered football his No. 1 sport.
“I was a running back,” D.J. Fenner said. “But I started growing ... and figured out there aren’t too many 6-foot-6 running backs in college.”
It was his father who recommended he give up football before high school to concentrate on basketball.
“He wanted me to play basketball,” Fenner said. “He knows the toll football takes on your body.”
BIG FOOT SIGHTING
There’s no doubt that Central Valley senior guard Austin Rehkow is known more for his right foot than his jump shot.
Rehkow in October broke a Washington state football record that had stood since 1929, booting a 67-yard field goal.
The kick is tied for the second-longest field goal in national high school history – 1 yard short of tying the record – and Rehkow is still riding a wave of attention for it.
“That’s kind of what I’m known for,” he said with a grin after the Bears’ consolation win over Richland. “I don’t really look back on it that much.
“It’s not like that’s my one shining moment. It was an awesome thing, but it’s not something I’m going to dwell on. I’m enjoying life down here at the state tournament. It’s awesome that it happened, but it’s just one kick.”
Rehkow signed last month with Idaho to play football.
FASTBREAKS
Action was delayed nearly a half-hour on the boys’ court Friday morning in the first game after Bothell’s Josh Martin dunked the ball so hard, it moved the entire basket’s foundation. ... Gov. Jay Inslee snuck into the Tacoma Dome on Friday night to take in the Franklin-Rainier Beach boys’ semifinal in 3A. Inslee’s father, Frank, taught and coached at Franklin.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/preps @ManyHatsMilles
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