Federal Way avenges loss

COVINGTON -- Like a single deck of cards, the South Puget Sound League 4A standings just keep shuffling around.

Federal Way hit the jackpot Tuesday night, using a 31-9 first quarter to beat Kentwood 58-41 and stay one game behind first-place Decatur. The Eagles play the Gators, 89-65 winners over Kentlake on Tuesday, in the season finale Jan. 31.

Federal Way came into the game tied for second with Kentridge, which scored a 75-58 win over Tahoma on Tuesday. Kentwood, on the other hand, was tied for first with Decatur. But that all changed in a matter of minutes.

The Eagles (10-2, 7-2) shot 13-for-20, buried three 3-pointers, forced eight turnovers and held Kentwood to 18 percent (3-for-17) shooting in the first quarter. Less than six minutes into the game it was 25-5.

Game over.

"Things went in our favor," Federal Way coach Jerome Collins said. "I was surprised it happened so quickly, but that's the game of basketball."

Senior wing Aaron Broussard scored nine of his game-high 17 in the opening period.

"We knew that if we came out and played defense we could take it to them," said Broussard, whose Eagles avenged a 69-60 home loss to Kentwood on Dec. 4 with what he called the team's "best game of the season."

Playing without sophomore guard Isiah Umipig for the second consecutive game, Federal Way blitzed the Conquerors with speed and athleticism. Montell Walton added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles, while Andre Barrington had 10 points and Broussard pulled down seven boards to go with his big night offensively.

"I thought we had an excellent game plan," Collins said. "We just got in a rhythm."

Kentwood got 16 points from Josh Smith, but the 6-foot-9 sophomore was pretty much a non-factor in the face of swarming Federal Way pressure. Jeremy Green had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Conquerors (11-3, 7-2), who had won nine in a row since losing a Dec. 11 game at Decatur.

"This can be the best thing for us," Conks coach Michael Angelidis said. "If we learn from this we'll be better for it."

Kentwood used an 8-0 spurt to start the second quarter and pull within 33-17, but the home team could do no more damage as Federal Way withstood a rough quarter -- the Eagles shot 2-for-9 and didn't score until the 1:38 mark -- to take a commanding 36-19 lead into the locker room.

The Eagles were in a similar situation last week, leading Jefferson by 18 points only to let down and nearly give away the game. They appear to have learned their lesson, though, as Kentwood never got closer than 15 in the second half.