Originally published Friday, February 8, 2008 at 12:00 AM

3A Boys Basketball | O'Dea gets No. 2 spot in division

Second place usually isn't something to get excited about, but an exception is in a Metro League divisional race. O'Dea pulled away in the...

By Craig Smith

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Second place usually isn't something to get excited about, but an exception is in a Metro League divisional race.

O'Dea pulled away in the final three minutes Thursday night to beat Bainbridge 61-56 and secure the important No. 2 spot in the Mountain Division behind Seattle Prep.

The victory gives the Irish (15-5 overall, 12-4 league) more than a berth in the Metro semifinal next Tuesday at top-ranked Rainier Beach. It ensures them of no lower than a No. 4 seed at the Sea-King (Metro/KingCo) District Tournament, where only four teams will advance to the Class 3A state tournament.

Bainbridge coach Scott Orness said realistically the district battle will be for the final three berths.

"I think Beach is head and shoulders above everybody," he said.

Orness said the loss at O'Dea showed that "O'Dea knows how to finish ball games" and that it is something his team (12-9, 10-6) hasn't mastered.

There were 12 lead changes in the second half before O'Dea pulled away. Senior Brian Walker scored seven of O'Dea's final 11 points.

His basket for a 51-48 lead came after teammate Jordan Suther made the defensive play of the game and blocked a shot by Nick Fling, who has been battling the flu. After 6-foot-10 junior Ben Eisenhardt scored the final basket of his 18-point night for Bainbridge, Walker hit a three-point dagger with 2:46 to play and a 54-50 lead.

"We had a lot of mental lapses on defense," Orness said. "Giving Walker open shots at the end of the game, that's like a layup for him. Those are unforced errors."

Walker scored 17 of his game-high 19 points in the second half.

"I get my confidence in the second half sometimes," Walker said. "I get more into the flow."

O'Dea coach Phil Lumpkin had another description of it: "senior leadership."

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