Boys Basketball Roundup | Gray-led Bainbridge sneaks past No. 1 O'Dea

Gonzaga-bound senior Steven Gray was as unstoppable as a ferry under full throttle Saturday.

Playing at O'Dea's gym, one of the state's toughest venues, the 6-foot-4 guard poured in 35 points to lead No. 2 Bainbridge past the top-ranked Irish 59-58 in a much-anticipated Metro League Mountain Division matchup.

In a performance that enhances his state player-of-the-year candidacy, Gray made 16 of 18 shots, including all five from beyond the three-point arc.

"It really helps your confidence seeing a couple of those shots go down," said Gray. "Once you get in that rhythm, it's just playing basketball."

Bainbridge coach Scott Orness said, "Steven has a tendency to rise to each occasion, and thank goodness he did it tonight."

There were five lead changes in the final quarter, and Gray put the Spartans ahead for good with a three-pointer with 1:41 to play that was the final basket of the game.

O'Dea coach Phil Lumpkin said, "He made some tough shots. In a game like this, you look for the player who is your go-to guy to stand up and be that guy. He was tonight."

The mild upset marked the first time Bainbridge has won at O'Dea since joining the Metro League six years ago. The win came 21 hours after Bainbridge (16-2 overall, 13-1 Metro) had been upset at Seattle Prep 68-67.

About the only thing Gray didn't do was sink a free throw with 5.6 seconds to play. O'Dea rebounded, called time out, but didn't get the shot or shooter it wanted on the final attempt.

With Chris Banchero covered by Gray and Jamelle McMillan not open, Brian Walker took a jumper and Gray grabbed the rebound as time expired and Bainbridge students ran onto the court to celebrate.

Banchero, who entered with a 16.8-point average, was held to 11 points. McMillan, who is on the cover of the current issue of national publication RISE Magazine, had nine points and four assists.

Banchero said, "We didn't come out and play as hard as we could, but the good thing is we've got them again."

The rematch will come Thursday on the island.

Senior guard Kelly Edwards led the Irish with 16 points, tying his season high.

The win snapped an 11-game winning streak for O'Dea (15-2, 12-1).

The Mountain Division winner will be at home for the semifinal game of the league tournament, against either Chief Sealth or Rainier Beach.

"We would like to get that No. 1 spot," said Orness, whose team shot 60 percent (21 of 35). "We think teams having to travel on the ferry is tough on them, but it's something we do every day."

Other boys games

Eastlake 56, at Roosevelt 44

Keaton Hayenga had 31 points as the Wolves (11-5, 8-3) beat the Roughriders in a KingCo 4A game, the third loss in the past three games for Roosevelt (12-5, 8-4).

At Rainier Beach 81, Lakeside 35

DeAngelo Jones scored 11 of his game-high 16 in the first quarter, and the third-ranked Vikings (12-5, 11-2) cruised past the Lions (8-10, 4-10) in a Metro League crossover game after taking a 43-13 halftime lead.

At Cleveland 56, Nathan Hale 52

Hilton Horne had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and the Eagles (11-7, 8-6) held off a late charge to beat the Raiders in a Metro League Sound Division game. Nathan Hale (9-9, 4-9), which was led by David Heald's 16 points, outscored Cleveland 24-8 in the fourth quarter but came up short.

At Inglemoor 101, Garfield 75

Steven Stone scored a season-high 37 points, Mark McLaughlin fell a point shy of his fourth consecutive 30-point game, and the Vikings (9-7, 5-5) blew past the Bulldogs (6-9, 5-5) in a Lake Division game.

At Decatur 65, Tahoma 48

Junior guard Marcus Tibbs scored a game-high 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead the third-ranked Gators (18-2, 12-2) to a regular-season-ending win over the Bears (11-9, 7-7) in SPSL North action.

At Mariner 38, Edmonds-Woodway 35

The Marauders overcame a 17-6 deficit at the end of the first quarter to beat the Warriors in a WesCo South game. Mariner (11-6, 10-4) answered by switching to a zone defense for the rest of the game, holding Edmonds-Woodway (15-4, 12-3) to nine points in the second half.

Mount Rainier 60, Highline 44

At Tyee High, the Rams of Des Moines (12-3, 10-1) won a Seamount League game behind Bruce Fuller's 21 points and 14 rebounds. DeMario Davis had 14 points to pace Highline (1-11, 1-8).

Kennedy 48, at Hazen 45

The eighth-ranked Lancers of Burien (16-2, 12-0), led by Chris Blais' 19 points, survived a scare from the Highlanders in a Seamount League game. Lorenzo Campbell scored 20 to lead Hazen (5-12, 4-7).