BOYS BASKETBALL: Lakes beats Decatur to win SPSL 3A title; Federal Way upsets No. 7 Rogers

Published 10:02 am Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Lakes Lancers were just too big and deep Tuesday night for the Decatur Gators. The sixth-ranked Lancers pounded the ball inside to clinch the South Puget Sound League 3A Division boys basketball championship with an 80-62 win over the Gators at Decatur.

The win moved Lakes to 17-2 overall and 9-0 in the SPSL 3A with just one league game remaining. The loss dropped the Gators to 13-6 overall and 7-2 in league play with both losses coming to the Lancers.

Things started out solid for Decatur Tuesday night. A 3-pointer by senior guard Jerron Smith early in the second quarter gave the Gators a 19-17 lead. But the athletic Lancers erupted on a 10-2 run during the next three minutes to take the lead for good.

Nate Guy, a 6-6 junior, led Lakes with 21 points. Isaac Winston added 19, Taylor McAllister chipped in 14, and junior Zach Banner contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots while playing just 19 minutes because of foul trouble. Banner is listed at 6-foot-9, 290 pounds and is one of the top offensive lineman recruits in the nation.

By pounding the ball inside, Lakes forced the much smaller Gators into fouling. The Lancers got 18 points from the free-throw line.

Decatur still had some chances during the game. Both Banner and Guy picked up their fourth fouls early in the second half, relegating them to the bench. But the Gators couldn’t take advantage.

Despite being hounded by numerous defenders all night long, including Guy, Decatur’s Jerron Smith led all scorers with 23 points. Dom Hunter added 15 points for the Gators. Smith entered the game averaging 28 a game.

Decatur will travel to Auburn Mountainview Friday for their regular-season finale before starting the postseason.

In other action:

at Federal Way 92, Rogers 87 — The Federal Way Eagles finally put a total game together Tuesday night and knocked off the first place Rams in the process. The Eagles erupted for 32 first-quarter points and tallied a season-high 92 during the victory over seventh-ranked Rogers.

The win moved Federal Way to 9-5 in the SPSL South and 10-8 overall and clinched the Eagles a berth into the West Central District Tournament. Federal Way sits in fourth behind Curtis (13-2), Rogers (12-2) and Puyallup (11-3).

Federal Way was led by senior guards Jerry Duckworth and Napa Mefi. Duckworth finished with 32 points and Mefi added 24. Senior Deshea Bell chipped in 13. Rogers was led by the career-high 42 points of Derek Jobe.

at Jefferson 60, Tahoma 52 — The Raiders picked up their first real victory in the SPSL North Tuesday over the Bears in overtime. After playing to a 48-48 tie at the end of regulation, TJ outscored Tahoma, 12-4, during the four-minute overtime.

Jefferson (5-13 overall, 2-12 SPSL North) was led by the 20 points of Deontae Davis and got 11 from Daryon James. The Raiders jumped out to a 13-5 lead after the first quarter, but the Bears (5-13, 1-12) fought back to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter.

Jefferson’s other SPSL North win came after Kentridge was forced to forfeit a December win after they used an ineligible player.

at Spanaway Lake 51, Beamer 49 — The Titans lost a tough one Tuesday to the Sentinels. Beamer never recovered after falling behind 18-9 during the first quarter.

The Titans (6-11, 5-9) were led by 11 points each from Andrew Moran, Thomas Rhodes and Terrance Salazar.