Curtis Claws, Fights To A 70-66 Overtime Victory Against Garfield; Will Play For State Title

TACOMA-Exhausted with red eyes, Dominic Robinson nearly collapsed into the arms of well-wishers waiting for him on the way to the locker room.

The Curtis guard was minutes removed from willing his team to an improbable, come-from-behind, 70-66 victory over Garfield in overtime in the semifinals of the 4A state playoffs Friday.

This win may be the signature victory of the season should the team from University Place take home a state title Saturday. The Vikings will play Jackson at 9 p.m., for the championship.

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Based on stats alone, Curtis probably should have come up short. The Vikings were out-rebounded, out-quicked and out-hustled by the team from Seattle for much of the first half. At one point in the third quarter, they were down 11 points.

But the Vikings clamped down on the defensive end - after Coach Tim Kelly instituted a zone - and stopped giving up defensive rebounds in the paint. For the game, the Bulldogs outrebounded the Vikings 35-28.

Curtis lost its veteran point guard, Dominique Jordan, midway through the fourth quarter after he fouled out. In overtime, it lost Jayson Williams.

Robinson seemingly wouldn't let his team lose. He finished with a game-high 25 points, despite going 1-for-7 from behind the arc. He did shoot 8-for-10 from the free throw line.

Tory Causey scored 13 points, while Andre Lewis had eight points and seven rebounds. After Garfield's Tucker Hammond committed a flagrant foul on a loose ball of an inbound pass with seconds remaining in overtime, Lewis hit two free throws to seal the game.

For Garfield, it was a crushing loss. The Bulldogs led by as many as 11 points midway through the third quarter. Hammond led the team with 16 points, and Torrence Baker added 15 points.

The fourth quarter and overtime were frantic, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. In the end, Curtis played hard enough to hang on for a victory and earn a spot in the 4A state title game for the second time in three years.

(Click on the media gallery to view my Facebok updates throughout the fourth quarter and overtime)

"Toughest game I've ever played. Simple as that," he said.

(Click the video for highlights, as well as interviews with Robinson, Andre Lewis and Coach Tim Kelly)