The Shoes of Ili-Meneese Make a Difference
Rainier Beach junior's monster game seals deal, championship shot for the Vikings
TACOMA – It must have been the shoes.
Not in the Mars Blackmon Nike commercial sense. But the shoe deal that Micah and Marques Ili-Meneese have with their uncle: Score 30 points and get a new pair of sneakers. That uncle had better get his credit card ready.
The younger of his nephews, junior Micah Ili-Meneese, had a game for the ages, hitting 14 of 17 shots, including two 3-pointers without a miss, for a career-high 30 points in Rainier Beach’s 71-49 victory over Bellarmine Prep on Friday.
The victory sends the Vikings, 28-1, to a Seattle vs. Tacoma championship game against Lincoln (Tacoma) in the Tacoma Dome, 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Vikings are seeking back-to-back titles, which would be No. 10 for coach Mike Bethea and 11 for the school.
Lincoln sophomore Davion Shareef-Dulaney hit a 3-pointer with 1:09 remaining, then blocked a shot by Eastside’s Micah Rouson at the buzzer to lead the No. 7 Abes to a 64-62 win over No. 4 Eastside Catholic. Shareef-Dulaney had 32 points, including 6 threes. Eastside’s All-League center, Yabi Aklog, was ejected from the game with 1:07 left in the first half.
So Ili-Meneese couldn’t have had better timing. Beach star Tyran Stokes seems to be held together with duct tape at this point. He played with a brace on his left wrist, a healing brace on his back during timeouts, and numerous body blows administered by his Lion defenders. Stokes had a season-low 15 points, the final two collected on free throws after a flagrant foul sent him careening into baseline photographers with 3 minutes, 15 seconds to play.
What’s more, his team got off to what’s becoming a characteristically slow start. Bethea applied defensive pressure a little earlier than usual and it was like nectar for Ili-Meneese. He got his hands on what seemed like every Bellarmine Prep dribble and pass and created pace for and ignited the Viking offense.
Ili-Meneese was credited with 6 steals against Bellarmine Prep, a total that seemed far short of reality. He had a similar impact the day before against O’Dea, contributing 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 5 assists. He is shooting an MVP-pace 20 of 24 (83.3%), to go with 47 total points, in two tournament games.
“Micah is just doing it all,” Bethea said. “I’m so happy for him. He’s kind of been that glue guy for us down here. He was here last year and played a big role. He’s making the big plays when the big plays need to be made.”
If Ili-Meneese jump-started the Rainier Beach offense with his defense, no Viking was a bigger beneficiary than himself. He had two steals, one he transported for a bucket, during a 10-0, second-quarter feeding frenzy that gave Beach a 25-15 lead it would not relinquish.
Ili-Meneese was feeling so good that, standing behind the 3-point line with seconds melting away in the first half, he let loose and upped his total to 11 second-quarter points.
“I work on that shot,” Ili-Meneese said. “I don’t usually take it, but I know I can make it. … My defense really woke me up on the offensive side, helped me get into a rhythm.”
Bellarmine Prep shocked Beach 59-57 in last year’s Round 2, forcing the Vikings to play an extra tournament game to collect their title. During Friday’s semifinal, Rainier Beach held Bellarmine Prep, the No. 5 seed this time, to just 33.3% shooting and forced the Lions into 24 turnovers.
On the bench with 23 points early in the fourth quarter, Ili-Meneese gestured to Bethea that he was ready to go back in. Bethea said he thought Ili-Meneese was joking, but that he was playing so well, he complied. The 6-foot-4 guard immediately drilled his second 3-pointer.
At that point, he was gesturing back and forth with the most excited fan in the Tacoma Dome, his brother Marques. “I was telling him he was close to 30 points,” the elder Ili-Meneese said, in turn reminding his brother of the shoe deal.
No problem. Micah Ili-Meneese followed up his 3-pointer with two straight inside hoops to get to 30 points, just like that. Afterward, he was asked how cool it was to set a career high in a state tournament semifinal.
“I mean, that’s cool,” he responded, “but I’m not done yet. I have one more game to finish.” He and his brother Marques are the only holdovers from last year’s championship team.
Ili-Meneese may have appeared in need of a new pair of sneakers. He played Friday’s game with a neon green shoe on his left foot and neon orange on his right. But that was on purpose, a suggestion by assistant coach Dave King.
As for what kind of shoes he wants from his uncle, Ili-Meneese said he’s got to think about it.
“I have to go look at the shoe stores,” he said, “and see what’s available.”
After an afternoon like Friday’s, a world of possibilities seem open to him and the Vikings.
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Check out Wednesday’s South Seattle Emerald for Beach’s “Family Business”