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OLYMPIA, WA – What happened in Kingdom some 25 years ago is just the lore of Mason Jürgens. he wasn’t around
But his uncle Chris won the Class 3A crown in the 1998 WIAA Boys’ Basketball Finals in the Bears’ 44-40 victory over Rainier Beach.
It was a tough moment not just for the community, but for Jürgens’ family.
“I have a little bit of hope,” Jürgens said. “But they would do anything to get back in that game and play it again.”
WSU’s Parker Geritz led all scorers with 28 points as Olympia trailed by a 13-2 run in the third quarter to take a 46-33 lead.
Miles Gurske led Rainier Beach with 17 points and scored 11 points in the first half.
But the night in front of a sold-out crowd was more than just a game. This was his first reunion in 25 years for his two programs and renewed his one of the most unique coaching friendships in the state.
A year ago, the two teams went head to head in the WIAA Championship at the Tacoma Dome. The Bears won his 3rd place trophy in Class 4A and Rainier Beach advanced to his game for the Class 3A title, losing to Auburn.
It was there that Olympia coach John Kiley and Rainier Beach’s Mike Vethea ran into each other several times. The two began talking about how it’s been nearly 25 years since his classic encounter in the 3A title game.
“These are friendships that we will eventually establish and cherish,” Betea said.
On the final day, Kylie suggested that the two teams have a reunion of sorts. Bring back some players from the 1998 squad and play a non-league match between the current squad.
Two months later, two coaches had confirmed the match and Bethea wanted to bring her team to Olympia.
“Big night,” Kylie said.
In the days leading up to Saturday’s game, Bethea saw Seattle’s two biggest stars of the week, NBA guard Jamal Crawford and now his assistant David King, meet for the first time in 25 years. I expected to be part of the reunion.
For Kyrie, 10 of the 12 collegiate players attended on Saturday. Among them was Allstate his guard Mark Bigelow, who eventually ended up playing abroad as a professional at BYU. All of them were introduced before tip-off.
Of the 1998 matchup against Rainier Beach, Bigelow said, “We played them evenly. “We missed a lot of opportunities. But at the same time, you look back on it fondly and fondly. .”
It was the week Betea won the first one of eight WIAA Championships, so it was the springboard to a career as a Hall of Fame coach.
And to this day, he still calls Mount Vernon, Mercer Island, Rainier Beach, Olympia and Odia the most-attended field in a mixed state tournament.
In front of nearly 20,000 fans in the state semi-finals. Olympia beat Mercer Island (52-50) and Vikings beat Mount Vernon (57-56).
Both teams were senior-led, but it was the Vikings who led 35-18 late in the third quarter.
However, Matt DeBoard’s 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter rallied the Bears. They followed with a 14-0 run to take a 38-37 lead with 2:21 remaining.
Meanwhile, Crawford converted Rainier Beach’s tough 14-foot jump shot, then hit a blocked shot on Bigelow seconds later. The Vikings never dragged again.
So did watching his Bears get a little revenge on Saturday night take some of the pain away from a big-stage loss all those years ago?
“No, no,” Kylie said sternly. “But it’s fine.”
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