Bellevue led top-ranked Rainier Beach by as many as five points in the first quarter, and had a one point advantage at the half of their 3A state semi final game after a Sharif Khan three-pointer.

But the Vikings proved too much down the stretch, and used 10-2 third quarter run to take control for good in a 73-61  win that sent them to Saturday’s title game against Eastside Catholic.

“We executed well in the first half,” Bellevue coach Chris O’Connor said. “We came back and settled down and made a run at them. It just wasn’t enough.”

David Crisp led the way for the nationally-ranked Vikings with 18 points, to go with two rebounds and four steals.  O’Connor said offensive patience helped keep his team in the mix early with the superbly athletic Vikings, who feature a host of Division I prospects including Louisville commit Shaqquan Aaron.

But eight straight Beach points to begin the third put them back on top and when the Wolverines cut the deficit back to four on a basket from Mikey Henn, it was Crisp and senior guard Naim Ladd who traded buckets during the decisive run.

“We just weren’t patient,” O’Connor said. “We weren’t running our motion offense and making them defend.” The Vikings forced Bellevue into 15 turnovers, which they converted for 29 points, and held Bellevue to 45 percent shooting for the game.

Bellevue meets Wilson, a semi final loser to Eastside Catholic, in Saturday’s third place game.