By Martin Barrett
Charles Brown Interrupts Cardinals Shooter
Burien’s Highline Pirates Mens Basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Wednesday night. The Franklin Pierce Cardinal team was like a blade in full spin form from the opening tipoff and handed the Pirates a 41-81 loss.
Jaylen Simpson Leads a Defensive Team Effort
Franklin Pierce jumped to 17-2 by 3:00 in the first quarter. The Cardinals went straight into a tight, energetic full-court press from the opening tip. The Cardinals scored on their first five possessions, mostly layups and short shots close to the hoop made available from Pirate turnovers.
Of credit to Head Coach Ricky Frazier; the team never panicked. They adjusted the pressure and began to bring the ball up the court and set the offense. It was hard for the Pirates to get good looks at the basket. The Cardinal defense was very well coached and played the most intense defense the Pirates encountered this season.
Marquawn McCraney Attracts a Crowd of Cardinals
The Franklin Pierce team was disciplined on their rebound screening. Cards were a solid, more muscular team and hard to move around in the key. On two occasions, their forward players grabbed five rebounds under the Cardinal offensive boards and put the ball back up until finally making the score.
This loss ends the Pirate season, the first season for Ricky Frazier as Head Coach. What we saw was very promising. First, Frazier continues the character and attitude of excellence pattern that began five years ago when Head Football Coach Deontae Cooper came to Highline and turned around a struggling program. Coach Frazier displays the same understanding that the purpose of their coaching is to make better men. The game and the intensity to be excellent are life lessons for their kids. Coach Frazier has a deep affection for his players beyond the court that impacts their lives.
Mohamed Abiabdi Presses in on Defense
For Rubin Humbert, Charles Brown, Mohamed Aliabdi, and Oscar Mendoza, this was their last game as Highline Pirates. We wish them well as they move on from Highline.
Looking into the future, Coach Frazier has some young talent coming up. Sophomores Corey Crosby finished the season as a started solid all-around player. Kelvin Stuart and Omar Ali-Abdi demonstrated significant improvement and maturing through the season and promise to return to make an ever more outstanding contribution in their Junior year.
Look for a season wrap-up interview with Coach Frazier in a couple of weeks after he has had time with his wife and family.
