Once again, senior Tre’Shaun Fletcher got it all rolling for the Abes, giving a masterful performance in his final game – 31 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots – as the Narrows 3A and West Central District champions claimed third place.
“It’s the best finish for a Tacoma (public) school in 11 years, so there’s a lot to be proud of,” Lincoln coach Aubrey Shelton said.
And against the ninth-ranked Quakers, Fletcher attacked the inside at will. All five of his field goals in the first quarter came from near the basket, and that set the tone.
“I knew they were smaller than me, so I thought that was our mismatch,” Fletcher said.
Franklin was still hanging around until the fourth quarter. Fletcher made a tough 8-footer in the lane to start the final period, and on Lincoln’s next possession, he took a nifty bounce pass from Josiah Barsh for a layup and a 61-48 lead for the No. 3 Abes .
Ninety seconds later, Fletcher, who will play for Colorado, finished off a three-point play and Lincoln was in control, 66-51, with 5:15 remaining.
California recruit Ahmaad Rorie scored 29 points for Lincoln, including four 3-pointers. The Abes shot 50 percent from the floor (28-for-56).
The Abes earned their first state trophy at the 3A level, and recorded their best finish overall since winning the 4A title in 2002.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.