Dickerson-led Eagles still scorching

By CASEY OLSON

The Mirror

The Federal Way Eagles remained the hottest team in the South Puget Sound League South Division with their seventh-straight win Tuesday over Graham-Kapowsin, 73-51.

The win was a huge one for the Eagles. Not only did they move into third place in the SPSL South, but they also avenged an earlier loss to Graham-Kapowsin. The new high school handed Federal Way its first defeat of the season, 48-42, on Dec. 13. The 42 points is still the Eagles’ lowest offensive output of the season.

A third-place or higher finish guarantees the Eagles a berth into the 16-team West Central/Southwest District Tournament. A place Federal Way hasn’t been since 1998. The fourth- and fifth-place teams must win a game at the SPSL Tournament to earn a spot at districts.

Senior wing Salena Dickerson was again the key for the Eagles Tuesday night against Graham-Kapowsin. The leading scorer in the state upped her already robust scoring average with 32 points. She came into the game averaging more than 26 a game. Tuesday was the fifth time this season that Dickerson has tallied more than 30 points. Her season high of 41 came during a Dec. 16 win over Curtis.

In the two teams’ first meeting of the season, Graham-Kapowsin “held” Dickerson to 19 points. It’s one of only two games the 5-foot-10 wing hasn’t tallied 20 or more.

Federal Way took control of the game early. Graham-Kapowsin rolled to a 7-6 lead with five minutes gone in the first quarter, but the Eagles used a 7-0 run to go up 13-7 late in the first.

Graham-Kapowsin kept it close in the second quarter, but Federal Way put the game away by outscoring the visiting team 23-12 in the third quarter. The Eagles led 54-36 entering the fourth.

Federal Way point guard Bree Rowe finished with 15 points and Cayla Dixon chipped in nine. Jenna Warren sat out the game with a sickness, but junior Rita Helmbrecht stepped in and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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