After a rough week following the death of legendary University of Washington player Christian Welp, Collin’s father, Seattle Prep was able to use its Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal game against Lakeside as a welcome distraction.
TACOMA — On Thursday, basketball was more than just a game for Seattle Prep and its sophomore forward Collin Welp.
Days after the death of legendary University of Washington player Christian Welp, Collin’s father, Seattle Prep was able to use its Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal game against Lakeside as a welcome distraction.
And it was Collin Welp who led No. 6 Seattle Prep to the semifinals with a 63-51 win over Metro League foe Lakeside in a game that was decided long before the final buzzer sounded.
The Panthers play at 7:15 p.m. Friday against Garfield, 66-54 winners over Kennedy Catholic. Lakeside faces Kennedy in a 12:15 p.m. consolation matchup.
“Within the pockets of grief and sorrow, it’s really important that he can just kind of do something,” Seattle Prep coach Mike Kelly said. “So basketball is that something that you can do. We got a really tight community and they’ve rallied around him. The basketball team rallied around him, and I think playing this week was healthy.”
State Hoops 2015
Boys:- 3A, 4A boys team capsules
- Boys brackets
- Rainier Beach cruises in marquee 3A state matchup, beats Bellevue
- Eastside Catholic overcomes shooting woes to pull out 42-35 win over Marysville-Pilchuck
- Garfield wears down Kennedy Catholic, 66-54, in 3A boys quarterfinal
- Collin Welp comes up big for Seattle Prep in emotionally-charged 3A boys quarterfinal
- Union's Riley Hawken has monster game in 4A boys quarterfinal win vs. Issaquah
- Davis edges Richland, plays Woodinville in 4A boys semis
- Woodinville doesn't flinch, rallies for 4A quarterfinal win over Kentwood
- 3A, 4A girls team capsules
- Girls brackets
- Gonzaga Prep knocks off Bothell in 4A state girls quarterfinal
- Bellevue beats Prairie big, in 3A girls semis for third year in a row
- Inglemoor's bigs smother Bellarmine Prep in 4A girls quarterfinals
- Lynnwood on point defensively in 3A girls quarterfinal win vs. West Seattle
- Jadyn Bush, Lily Dipietro lead Blanchet into 3A girls semis
- Jayde Christopher keys Cleveland comeback in 3A girls quarterfinal
In a game that was a struggle offensively for both teams at times, Welp hit the shot that rallied the Panthers (21-7). With No. 8 Lakeside (21-8) trying to claw back into the contest after trailing 29-17 at the break, Seattle Prep was struggling to find a scoring rhythm.
Enter Welp, who nailed one of his two three-pointers to spark a 13-4 run that put the Panthers ahead 41-24. He led Seattle Prep with 13 points, adding five rebounds.
The 6-foot-8 Welp was also one of three lengthy Seattle Prep forwards to give Lakeside star guards Isiah Brown and Daejon Davis trouble. With the length of Jordan Kitchen (6-7) and J’Raan Brooks (6-8) in the lane, Brown and Davis had problems finding good looks near the hoop.
Brown and Davis combined to shoot 2 of 15 from the field in the first half. Brown, who led Metro in scoring with more than 28 points per game, managed 20, but shot just 6 of 23 from the field. Davis led the Lions with 22 points, but neither was a factor until garbage time.
“They did a good job of helping in the lane,” Lakeside coach Shea Robinson said. “We had a lot of closer-range shots that just didn’t fall early … they’re tough shots because they were doing a good job. They didn’t fall early, and they kind of set the tone for the game.”
Kitchen also added 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Brooks scored nine and grabbed 12 boards.
“Everybody this time has something to play for, everybody wants to win the championship,” senior Jack Stewart said. “But we have that something extra special that is really meaningful to all of us on the team.”