The Vikings' 39-point blowout was deceptive, though. For the most part, Rainier Beach played an ugly game, plagued by endless fouls, bad passes, missed jumpers and lay-ups, and a heated exchange at the end of the first half that cleared the Vikings' bench. "This game was an indication of what we have to change in order to be the team we want to be," Rainier Beach Athletic Director Dan Jurdy says. "We need to play a more structured game."
Indeed, Rodrick's twin brother, Lodrick Stewart (the second-ranked high-school junior in the country) spent most of the game sidelined with foul trouble. He ended up with the maximum five fouls. "I'm going to have to straighten him out about that," said the twins' ever-present father, Bull Stewart. Attentive and stern, wearing a beige sweatsuit, Bull sat in the bleachers with a sharpened pencil, jotting down his boys' stats in a neat black leather notebook. (Despite the foul trouble, Lodrick did manage to post 10 points and 12 rebounds.) Meanwhile, high-scoring Rodrick had nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
In addition to wanting this year's Class 3A title (which the Vikings lost last season to Mount Vernon), the Stewart twins are focused on becoming the number one and two players in the country ["Lodrick and Rodrick," Josh Feit, Sept 27]. To that end, the boys see the first half of the season as a warm-up for a Christmas tournament in Delaware, where the Vikings will take on top teams from around the country, showing off their skills in front of college and pro scouts.
Despite the clumsy game, those skills were on display at the Rainier Beach High gymnasium last Tuesday--especially from forward Rodrick. Never mind his breakaway 360° dunk in the fourth quarter: Rodrick iced Cleveland's fate much earlier in the game. Late in the first half, after drawing the foul on a hard drive, he sank two free throws and then immediately launched into the air to intercept Cleveland's inbound, netting a follow-up jumper. ("You can go home, Cleveland, it's OH-ver," a few gleeful sophomore girls sang, as they styled out to the lobby concessions stand at the half for Doritos and hot dogs.)
Rodrick's old-fashioned, courteous, and humble manner was also on display. At one point, he stopped to help the ball boy mop up--and during a time out, Rodrick, as opposed to his teammates, didn't demand star treatment. Instead of beckoning a team manager for a water bottle, he quietly walked over to the courtside drinking fountain.
