Lacey private high school rivals Pope John Paul II and Northwest Christian met in a 1B Sea Tac WIAA boys basketball game on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Olympia Basketball Academy (OBA) in Tumwater. Pope John Paul II hosted NW Christian and won the game 54-41.
Pope John Paul II had a balanced offensive attack, led by 12 points from freshman Max Kapust, 10 points from junior Luis Geronimo, and nine points each from juniors Henry McHugh and Kevin Hu. The win for Pope John Paul II (2-7, 2-7 1B Sea Tac) was the second win for the Eagles.
Northwest Christian was led by freshman Carter Pontius, who had 18 points, including four three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Freshman Kananoa Paresa had 12 points for the Wolverines.
Pope John Paul II head coach Philip Kerrigan was excited for his team’s second win of the year. “I am really proud of the effort and intensity of this team tonight,” stated Kerrigan. “I am proud of their performance and look forward to the rest of the season with this great group of young men and their families.”
Northwest Christian (3-10, 0-7 1B Sea Tac) head coach James Hall thought his team played well at the start of the game, but recognized they struggled generating offensive finishes later in the second half. “We’re a very young team, with our rotation made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, along with a core trio of juniors, so this season has been a great opportunity for them to build up their game experience,” Hall remarked after the game. “I’ve appreciated the way younger guys have stepped up to lead our team as some of our veterans have been out due to injuries.
Eagles small forward Kevin Hu was everywhere during the game, scoring, rebounding, and forcing several turnovers when Pope John Paul II used a full-court press. Senior Nick Smith scored his first two points of the season for Pope John Paul II.
Coach Hall noted that Northwest Christian has worked hard on emphasizing connectedness throughout this season. “I was very proud of the ways our guys stayed connected throughout the challenges this game presented. We have five regular season games left, and we look forward to stacking up more experience and growth as we head to the finish line.”
