Is Annie Wright the king of Tacoma basketball? Golden Gators stomp Life Christian, 85-32
In a crowded Tacoma hoops scene brimming with state contenders, is Annie Wright the area’s unrivaled gem?
There’s no official title, but we’re still waiting for someone else to grab the crown.
The Golden Gators toppled another Tacoma rival on Thursday night: Star guard Jeremiah Harshman caught fire with four triples in the first half, and Annie Wright stomped crosstown rival Life Christian Academy at home, 85-32, with an all-around performance on Senior Night.
Mark another W on their schedule — Annie Wright owns local wins over the likes of Bellarmine Prep, Silas, and now Life Christian, all without an in-state loss.
“We take a lot of pride in (our defense),” Harshman said. “We don’t want teams to score on us.
“We try to seal them out, and that starts up our offense.”
Within the 1A Nisqually elite, many consider Annie Wright (14-1) the area’s best team. Others consider them the state’s top team, and some are willing to deem them the best in the Northwest. Tuesday night was another shining example: a master class of interior defense with a balanced mix of size, speed, and length. Life Christian struggled to reach the paint, let alone score there.
If it feels like the same nucleus of players are guiding the Gators in 2024-25 once again, it’s because they are: Harshman, Indiana State commit Martin Kaupanger, and senior guard Reggie Lester are four-year varsity starters.
“We trust each other,” Harshman said. “We know where we’re at on the court, and our chemistry’s through the roof. I always know where Martin’s at, I always know where Reggie’s cutting and things like that, so it just helps us throughout the game.”
Harshman, a 2024 TNT All-Area selection, “kept things simple” with catch-and-shoot threes and rested beyond halftime once Annie Wright notched a 30-point lead. An aggressive point guard with a keen sense for making the right read, it’s tough to stop him when he’s in a groove.
“And they’re leaving me open,” he said, “so why not take advantage?”
Harshman finished with 12 points, Lester scored 10, and Kaupanger added six. Annie Wright guard Gabe Walsh dropped a game-high 14 points, matching Harshman’s four treys. Tenino transfer Noah Schow, the reigning 1A Nisqually MVP and 6-foot-6 forward, chipped in nine points.
A dozen Golden Gators scored on Thursday night and eight players scored at least six points. It’s a challenge for head coach Dominique Williams, in control of an abundance of talent and not enough minutes to go around.
“Man, it’s a good feeling,” Williams said, “but a 32-minute game goes by so quick and you want everyone to get a lot of minutes. It’s a good feeling when you can trust your bench and just keep things going.
“Their friendship off the court helps the chemistry on the court. Just being good friends and not caring who’s hot that night goes a long way with them.”
Annie Wright’s season began with a South Sound-sized statement when the Gators upset 3A Metro power Rainier Beach on the road, 74-70 — a roster boasting New Mexico commit Jaylen Petty and Rutgers signee Kaden Powers. They stunned Oregon’s 6A-Central Catholic on Dec. 30 when Harshman, down two points, drilled a step-back triple at the horn to clinch a third-place finish at the Les Schwab Invitational in Portland.
It’s all part of Annie Wright’s revenge tour. They fell to No. 1 Zillah on a last-second game-winner, 47-45, in last year’s 1A state championship, and it’s their priority to get back.
“We’re not letting up,” Kaupanger said. “We know from last year. We’re not done until we have the state championship trophy.”
They’re certainly the midseason favorites. Thursday night’s win extended Annie Wright’s win streak to six, just two wins from an undefeated 1A Nisqually title.
Life Christian guard Cole Johnson sank three triples and scored an Eagles-best nine points. Junior guard Jabez Boyd, the offensive engine before exiting with a hip injury after a third-quarter fall underneath the hoop, added eight.
“We’re always making sure we have more to prove,” Harshman said. “Even after the Beach game, we’re still the underdogs. People are still going to overlook you, so that’s the big thing, is keeping that underdog mindset.”
BOX SCORE
LCA: 7-8-11-6—32
AWS: 25-18-19-23—85
Scoring: (AWS) Walsh 14, Harshman 12, Lester 10, Holliday 9, Schow 9, Caldwell 8, Reger 8, Kaupanger 6; (LCA) Johnson 9, Boyd 8, Hernandez 8
This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
