253: An Area Code Chalked Full of Basketball Talent

It's been a historic run for basketball in the 253 area code.

Four area high schools in four separate classifications, along with Pierce Community College in Lakewood, advanced to their respective state championship games this past weekend. Three of them, including both high schools from Lakewood, were crowned the No. 1 statewide.

Lakes (3A) and Clover Park (2A) of Lakewood and Cascade Christian (2A) of Puyallup won their respective classifications by an average of 14 points. Curtis (4A) of University Place lost to a methodical Gonzaga Prep team, 61-41. Pierce Community College at Fort Steilacoom advanced to the championship but fell short to Peninsula on Tuesday 80-76 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

While Seattle and the 206  is well-known for developing NCAA Division I talent and NBA players like Brandon Roy (Portland Trailblazers), Jamal Crawford (Atlanta Hawks), Jason Terry (Dallas Mavericks) and Nate Robinson (Oklahoma City Thunder), the mecca of talent has shifted — briefly perhaps — to the 253.

It's a special feeling, players said, to bring home a championship to the area south of Seattle.

Lakes senior Taylor McAllister — who dunked the final points of the 3A championship against Bellevue — said it shows there's a lot of talent in the 253 and that the area can compete with the entire state.

"Now we have to defend it," McAllister said.

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy congratulated all four schools in demonstrating grit and determination throughout the season prior to the state tournament championship this past Saturday.

"This is such an exciting day for many Pierce County families," McCarthy said.

Clover Park head coach Mel Ninnis and Lakes head coach Jojo Rodriquez helped the Warriors and Lancers to their first state championship ever for both schools. Ninnis said the 253 is definitely a basketball mecca of talent growing within the Lakewood community.

"I've never heard it happen before," Ninnis said about four schools from the same zip code advancing to the state championship. "It shows right now we are blessed with talent right here in Lakewood."

A common thread many of the players in the suburban Tacoma area share is the struggle to reach the state championship game and win. No team from the Tacoma area since Lincoln in 2002 had won a state championship before this year.

Clover Park freshman David Crisp, who helped lead his team to a state title averaging more than 13 points per game, said that by everybody in the 253 going to state and most of them winning is like a dream come true.

"It makes you feel like your town is doing work," Crisp said. "It's like everybody is looking at you."

His teammate and senior captain Tana Pritchard, who scored 13 points and was named tournament MVP, said he wanted to do it for his family and the whole community.

"This state championship was for everybody," Pritchard said.

Lakes senior Isaac Winston, who averaged 19 points in the state tournament, said the Tacoma area schools don't get a lot of recognition.

"People were saying win it for the city, which is what we did." Winston said.

As for Lakes' big 6-foot-8 post Zach Banner, he represents the 253 all the way.

"Our team reps it," Banner said. "I don't rep nothing else. 253 F.O.E. (Family Over Everything) baby."