BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Sports Correspondent

TACOMA - West Seattle was within a few heartbeats of advancing to the Class 3A Hardwood Classic championship game when Jaylen Nowell broke its heart with a throw up put-back shot that officials ruled was a buzzer beating goal that gave Garfield a 44-43 semifinal win on Fri., March 3, at the Tacoma Dome.

After controlling the tempo most of the game, the Wildcats trailed 42-41 with just more than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter and victory seemed elusive.Senior Wildcat guard Nate Pryor quickly raced down the court to deliver a runner thatshot WS ahead with 10 seconds to go.Garfield decided to forego a time out, immediately inbounding from back court and flashing down the court.

Nowell accepted the ball near half court and penetrated into the paint only to roll his shot off the rim with four seconds left. In the ensuing struggle to the secure the loose ball, he secured possession and instinctively threw up another shot near the expiration of the shot clock and the accompanying buzzer.

After officials conferred, the Bulldogs were on their way to meet undefeated and nationally ranked No. 1 Nathan Hale for their fourth encounter of this season."My team has heart," Garfield coach Ed Haskins observed. "My team wants to win, and my team wasn't going to give up...If they were my blood kids I couldn't be prouder."West Seattle showed great heart and focus to force the game into their deliberate tempo from the outset.

The West Siders forced their will to gain an 8-8 tie after one quarter.Both teams struggled to make shots.In the second quarter, the Wildcats continued to work their wily control game as the the Bulldogs edge ahead 19-18 at the intermission.In a chess game style of tactical battle, West Seattle kept Garfield from executing quick scoring bursts.Three third quarter ties ensued, including a 27-27 standoff with 2:47 until the fourth quarter.Steely mental intensity kept the Wildcats in control with Pryor's step back jump shot leading into a Tyler Lenzie 3-pointer from the corner. Lenzie then assisted to Pryor for a lay in as WS worked into a 34-27 lead that eventually turned into a 34-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Following a Bulldog bucket, the Wildcats worked themselves into the largest lead of the game.Yusuf Mohamed struck for a trey that was quickly built upon by Abdullahi Mohamed's two free throws and West Seattle led 39-31.Garfield had been extending its defense in attempts gain turnovers or to put early pressure on the Wildcat ball control and suddenly, the Garfield express got into gear as a result of hurried WS shots, Bulldog blocked shots and a tempo change.Garfield racked up nine consecutive points to lead 40-39 with 1:45. showing.

Abdullahi Mohamed fed Pryor for a hoop, butNowell rolled the rim into the hoop for a Bulldog 42-41 lead with 65 seconds left as the stage was set for the frantic finish."We had a stretch in the fourth quarter when it was tough getting organized on offense," said Wildcat coach Keffrey Fabio. "I'm pretty numb right now.

A lot of kids in that locker room are pretty hurt. I think they felt like they played hard enough to win the game, good enough to win the game. We just came up a little short."Pryor knocked down 19 points for West Seattle.Nowell led a trio Bulldogs in double figure scoring with 14. J'Raan Brooks tallied 13 and Daejon Davis chipped in with 11.