Federal Way heads to state

AUBURN -- With the season and the No. 5 seed in the state tournament hanging in the balance, Jeff Forbes toed the free-throw line not once, but six times.

He drained all six and Federal Way held off Kentwood 51-44 in Thursday's loser-out, winner-to-state West Central 4A District Tournament game at Auburn High School.

For Forbes, the situation wasn't unfamiliar.

"I'm used to it," Forbes said. "I did it against Decatur at our house."

Forbes conceded that while that rivalry game at home was big, it didn't have the pressure of Thursday's game.

"Those free throws were big for me and big for our team," Forbes said. "It feels great we're going to state."

The fact that Forbes was even available to finish off the Conquerors wasn't a given. Earlier in the game, he was nearly knocked unconscious after a full-speed collision.

"When I hit the ground, my head bounced and I didn't even know what was going on," Forbes said.

It took him only seconds to remember, when prompted by Eagles coach Jerome Collins.

"I asked him where he was and he said, 'Auburn High School,' " Collins said. "I asked him what's important and he said, 'State.' "

Federal Way (18-6) opened with a 12-2 spurt against its SPSL North rival, but the lead was short-lived. Kentwood (19-7) went on an 18-8 scoring binge to tie the game 20-20 on Jeremy Green's jumper halfway through the second quarter.

"It's a real tough district," Green said. "Every night we played was a playoff-style game. That's how it is coming from the SPSL North."

Kentwood slowed the pace of the game, trying to feed super sophomore Josh Smith, and while he had trouble scoring with two or three defenders on him, he did keep Federal Way from running up the count.

The Eagles were so determined to have anyone other than Smith beat them that at one point, Green drove to within 8 feet of the basket and the Federal Way defender left him to triple-team Smith.

Trailing 43-34, Smith finally got going, scoring nine points to pull the Conquerors within 45-44. That's when Forbes took the spotlight.

"There's a lot at stake," Collins said. "I just tip my hat to the kids because each time we matched each run and then took our run at the end."

Four players scored for the winners, led by Aaron Broussard with 16 points, Andre Barrington and Cole Dickerson with 12 points apiece and Forbes' 11.

Smith led Kentwood with 22 points, adding 10 rebounds and three blocks.