Annie Wright builds early lead, holds off late Stadium run in tough nonleague matchup
The high school basketball postseason doesn’t begin until February, but a late regular-season matchup between Annie Wright and Stadium on Wednesday evening had a playoff atmosphere.
The two schools, located less than a mile apart in Tacoma, play in different leagues.
Annie Wright, the top-ranked program statewide in Class 1A, is undefeated in 1A Nisqually League play, and looking to wrap up a league championship in the next two weeks. Stadium finished the regular season as one the top programs in the 3A Pierce County League this winter.
But, Wednesday night’s tilt at Stadium High School certainly felt like a rivalry.
“It was a fun atmosphere for sure,” first-year Annie Wright coach Dominique Williams said.
The Gators took control early and built their lead as high as 18 points early in the second half, but had to hold off a late run from the Tigers to eventually secure an impressive nonleague victory.
Stadium rallied to tie the game with less that a minute to play, but the Gators made five unanswered free throws in the final 34.1 to close out the 71-66 win.
“We definitely needed it,” Gators guard Jeremiah Harshman said. “We fought through a lot of adversity during that game with foul trouble. They fought their way back, they played a good game when we had the lead in the first half.
“So, it was definitely a game we needed before going into the playoffs.”
The Gators scored on their first eight possessions in the first quarter, and opened the game on a 14-4 run.
Cole Holloway scored the first basket of the game for Stadium, giving the Tigers their only lead before Martin Kaupanger answered for the Gators seconds later.
Reggie Lester gave the Gators their first lead on their next trip up the court, and they never trailed again during the contest.
Annie Wright led 21-8 at the quarter break following another bucket from Kaupanger, and took a 41-24 lead into halftime after TJ Marshall connected on a long 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
It seemed the Gators might run away with a win, but the Tigers unloaded a 27-point third quarter — keyed by Ne’Quan Brown, Baaroc Rivers and Donovan Gill, who combined for 20 points in the third — to cut Annie Wright’s lead to two possessions heading into the final eight minutes.
The Gators’ lead hovered between two and three possessions until Kellen O’Halloran sparked an 8-0 run for Stadium late in the fourth with a long 3-pointer from the top of the key. Miles Washington scored on a contested driving layup on the Tigers’ next possession, and O’Halloran added a corner 3-pointer moments later to tie the game at 66-66 with 45 seconds left.
But, Lester connected on the first of two free throws to give Annie Wright what turned out to be the game-winner on the next possession.
Following an offensive rebound on the second, Amare Breedlove hit both free throws to extend the Gators’ lead to three with 25.1 to play.
After a Stadium turnover, Harshman sealed the win with two more free throws with 9.7 seconds left.
“Just a great win for our team,” Williams said. “Just a great win going into the playoffs. A great atmosphere, playoff atmosphere. It’s a great team win for them to build a little confidence.”
Harshman scored a game-high 20 points for the Gators and added five rebounds and four assists. Marshall added 17 points and eight boards, while Breedlove had 10 points and eight rebounds and Kaupanger 10 points and five rebounds.
O’Halloran led the Tigers with a team-high 18 points — including five 3-pointers — and added four rebounds. Rivers also finished in double figures for Stadium with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Brown and Gill each had nine points, while Brown also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Stadium (13-7) wrapped up its regular season schedule Wednesday night, while Annie Wright (17-1) resumes 1A Nisqually play Friday — with second meetings with Life Christian, Bellevue Christian and East Jefferson ahead — with a chance to complete an unbeaten run through league play before the district playoffs begin.
Annie Wright also has nonleague wins over White River, Chief Sealth and Silas earlier this winter.
The Gators have not lost a game to an in-state team this season.
“I feel like we’re at where we should be, but we can definitely still get better,” Harshman said. “So, I think we’ve always got more to do.”
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 11:07 PM.
