SEATTLE — Jaylen Petty, Kaden Powers, and Nyale Robinson could go down as one of the best backcourts in state history. 

"You know what, they are in that argument," said Mike Bethea, Rainier Beach head coach. "To have those young men come up through the program. I knew it was only a matter of time before something special was going to happen with that group."

"I think so," Robinson said. "I like our team. I like our backcourt and we already knew from when we were way young that we were going to be going to the same school and everything."

Robinson, Petty, and Powers have been playing with or against each other since they were 10. years old.

"Just meeting them at an early age surrounded by hoop," Petty said. "You know, I didn't really know them at first, but creating a bond, playing basketball together. It just means a lot honestly."

"It's kind of a blessing to be able to like have these guys around for this long," Robinson said.

All three will play in college next year, but all three made sure they left their egos on the bench. Assistant coach Jamal Crawford at the beginning of the season had an important message to the team. 

"Coach Crawford, he got the kids to buy in to let the ball be the star, and that's what these guys did," Bethea said. "And that's the definition of unselfish basketball."

"Everybody had a part in this team, whether they were scoring or on defense or just doing whatever they needed to do to help us win, so that was just so special," Powers said. 

"People would think that we are going to be a selfish team off of all the talents that we have," Robinson said. "No, like you know that one more extra pass makes you feel better when you know your teammate can make a shot too."

At the state tournament, the Vikings' unselfish play shined.

"All of us," Powers said. "All three of us had to step up and really had to be vocal and put our foot down with everybody and keep everybody in check and try to win."

"Having a bond that's further than basketball just makes you better," Petty said. 

Rainier Beach won their four games at state by an average of over 23 points a game.

"All they say is, 'There's nothing like it,'" Robinson said. "Like there's no feeling like it and that's true. Like you just got to win it yourself to really feel this."

Going out on top was surreal for the seniors. 

"It was fun cutting down the nets, being with my brothers for the last time on the court, taking that in, soaking it all in," Powers said. "It was fun."

"It's unreal honestly," Petty said. "Like you just think about it (and) you smile. Like, dang, you really created history. Like you're in the history books so it makes me smile every day."

For Bethea, this was his ninth state championship at Rainier Beach, but winning this one was extra special. 

In January 2021 Mike Bethea almost lost his life, he spent 15 days in the ICU at Overlake Hospital battling COVID-19.

"By the time my wife got me to Overlake Hospital, it went from we're going to give you medicine and send you home to you're not going to make it through the night if we don't keep you here," Bethea said. They came to me after the 10th day in ICU and told me that they needed to put me on the ventilator because my breathing was at only 3% breathing and I refused to go on it. They basically told me, 'Well we're going to give you another day and if it doesn't change by then you won't make it.' I just feel like I was blessed by God, you know, he said, hey, it wasn't time yet."

Bethea said he's blessed, but maybe it's Rainier Beach that's blessed to have him. He's coached for over three decades and has nearly 700 wins. 

"You cherish every moment, not that I didn't do it before, but it put everything in the right perspective," Bethea said. 

With that in mind, he does not think about the word retirement yet.

"There's still some gas left in the tank," Bethea said. 

Bethea is currently fifth on the all-time wins list with 682 wins in 31 years. 

Ed Pepple is atop the leaderboard with 952 wins in 49 years while coaching at Fife, Mark Morris and Mercer Island.