For three periods the Chief Sealth Seahawks were in control of their cross town rivals the West Seattle Wildcats. That all changed as the game reached its closing moments.

For twenty four minutes Sealth’s go to guys, Bronte’ Corbray and Aaron Knox, controlled the Wildcats on offense and defense. That all changed in the last eight minutes of play when West Seattle’s coach, Keffery Fazio, rotated in taller guards to counter the Seahawks inside game. The new combination proved successful. The lanes that were there earlier vanished.

The lack of easy access to the hoop frustrated Sealth, and forced them to shoot from outside the paint. In the past, the Seahawks would step back and launch bombs from outside the arc, not so on this night. Their normally accurate shooting was left in the locker room and as the game clock began winding down it became apparent that the momentum had changed to favor West Seattle.

When, at the 1:09 mark. LaTey Newsome drove to the hoop for the tying points one could feel the energy change dramatically, and as regulation expired the scoreboard showed a game all knotted up at 47-47. The West Seattle faithful went berserk.

In the overtime it was all West Seattle. The Wildcats frustrated Sealth at every turn. It seemed the only way the Seahawks could get the ball back was by fouling West Seattle. That was the nail in the coffin for Sealth.

West Seattle, whose sketchy play at the line earlier in the game, found its mark and slowly, point by point the Wildcat lead grew. When time expired and with the score 59-51 the rafters shook with exaltation from the crowd.

These two teams will meet again on January 22nd at Chief Sealth.

Until then; West Seattle plays Seattle Lutheran at home on December 22. Game time is 7 pm, and Sealth will be at Lakeside HS on the 21st of December. That game will be played at 6:15 pm.

The Herald would like to post the following corrections;
West Seattle’s LaTrey Newsome had 21 points for a team high and Chief Sealth’s Vidal Griffin II had a team high 19 points and Sealth’s Bronte’ Corbray finished with 18 points.