Jefferson, Frank hold on to beat FW

By CASEY OLSON

The Mirror

The Thomas Jefferson girls basketball team hasn’t given up on the season just yet. The Raiders are still theoretically alive for the South Puget Sound League South Division’s fifth and final berth into the postseason after beating cross-district rival Federal Way Friday night, 46-42.

The win improved the Raiders to 4-8 in the SPSL South and 6-8 overall and also provided a serious blow to Federal Way’s playoff push.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 5-7 in the South and 6-8 overall. Puyallup currently occupies fifth place in the South with a 7-5 record with six games remaining in the regular season, meaning either TJ or Federal Way would need to win five or six of those games to have a chance at the playoffs.

“We played very well,” said TJ coach Jerry Krueger of the win over the Eagles. “We have played a very solid three games in a row. We are looking for a positive finish to the season and still haven’t given up on the fifth and final playoff spot.”

Leading the way against Federal Way was senior point guard Kalei Frank, who filled up the stat book in the win. The 5-foot-5 Frank scored a career-high 24 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, had three assists and four steals while committing only three turnovers. Her rebound total was just three from the school record.

“(She) had the best game I have seen a Raider play since I’ve been at TJ,” Krueger said. “She showed tremendous floor leadership when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter.”

Jefferson jumped all over Federal Way from the opening tip, taking a 13-5 lead after the first quarter. But the Eagles fought back in the second to cut the Raider lead to 25-22 at halftime.

Federal Way’s Salena Dickerson continued her strong junior season with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Chelsea White chipped in seven. Lisa Clark tallied nine points for TJ.

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