No. 1 Garfield knocks off Metro League rival Cleveland

After playing Cleveland three times during Metro League play and the district tournament, Garfield knew that they could beat the Eagles – but it wouldn’t be easy.

No. 1 Garfield took down No. 8 Cleveland for the fourth time this season, 83-66, in the 3A quarterfinal on Thursday afternoon at the Tacoma Dome.

Every time the Bulldogs opened up a 20-plus point lead, Cleveland went on a run to claw back into it.

“They’re a hard team to put away,” said senior guard Terrell Brown. “Every time we play them, we get up 20, and somehow they get it back to 13. C.J. Elleby is a tough player; he knows how to hit tough shots.”

Brown scored 16 points, tying Jaylen Nowell for Garfield’s team lead. Three other Bulldogs scored in double figures: Jashuan Agosto had 13, while Daejon Davis and Alphonso Anderson each scored 12.

Garfield scored 13 straight points in the second quarter to build a 38-18 lead, but Cleveland chipped away and was trailing by just 11 with 6 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game.

Davis nailed a key 3-pointer from the right wing, starting another 13-0 Garfield run which put the game away.

Defense keyed the two big Garfield scoring runs. The Bulldogs forced 25 Cleveland turnovers.

Garfield (25-2) faces No. 2 Rainier Beach in the semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Tacoma Dome. The two teams split their Metro League battles, with neither game decided by more than seven points.

“It’s not a championship game, but it’s going to feel like a championship game,” said Brown.

Cleveland (22-7) will play Lincoln at 10:30 a.m. Friday. The sophomore Elleby led Cleveland with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 4:24 PM with the headline "No. 1 Garfield knocks off Metro League rival Cleveland."