Coming off their biggest win of the season against White River on Dec. 16 on the road, the Decatur High School girls basketball team was hoping to follow up that performance with another solid outing, this time against Spanaway Lake.

The Sentinels (7-1) got the better of the Decatur Gators (4-2) by a score of 54-39 on Dec. 22 inside the Decatur gymnasium.

“My girls were ready for that game and this game they weren’t ready to go,” said coach Morris Anderson.

Anderson noted the fact that Decatur is now on winter break, which may have impacted the girls’ performance.

“We didn’t have school today. We are out of our routine and I’m a big believer in they need their daily routine,” Anderson said.

Decatur’s non-league schedule this season is possibly one of the toughest in the state. They began the year with Auburn, who are undefeated (9-0), now Spanaway Lake (7-1), a tournament at Glacier Peak, Bellevue (8-2), Kentridge and Kennedy Catholic.

“We are just trying to prepare our girls for(making the playoffs). Our league isn’t the best right now, so those games will really help us. I said earlier at the beginning of the season, I want to hold the gold ball up. Beating those teams is what it is going to take,” Anderson said.

The game against Spanaway Lake got out to a shaky start for both sides. Decatur was led by freshman Avaieyah Sinclair, who scored seven of Decatur’s first eight points and gave the Gators an 8-5 lead.

Decatur’s Jayda Thomas holds up play with the ball in her control. Ben Ray / The Mirror

But the Sentinels then proceeded to score the next 11 points to double up the Gators. Spanaway Lake never relinquished the lead, despite Decatur’s best efforts.

Decatur cut the lead two one, 16-15, midway through the second quarter, but couldn’t overcome the Sentinels as Spanaway Lake kept the Gators at bay.

When playing from behind, every shot matters. That’s the most obvious line ever said about the game of basketball, but when a team goes 4 for 14 from the free throw line, it’s hard to make a comeback against a defensive juggernaut like Spanaway Lake.

“Hats off to them,” Anderson said of Spanaway Lake. “We just gotta clean up some of our mistakes.”

The Gators’ best offensive quarter was the third quarter when four different Gators recorded points. The Gators once again cut the lead to a single point in the third quarter, but Spanaway Lake again didn’t let Decatur take the lead.

In the fourth quarter, Decatur looked like it just ran out of gas. Anderson echoed that same sentiment after the game.

“I think we were just tired. Tonight I really only played my top five girls the whole game. I just think they were too tired toward the end of it. You know how hard it is to come back and use all your energy, and now you’re even more tired,” Anderson said.

Decatur fell further and further behind, and the Gators needed to cut the lead to 12 or even 10 points to feel like they were in the game. But the Sentinels kept the Gators a safe distance away and cruised to the 15-point win.

Despite the loss and despite maybe not her best performance, Sinclair was still a standout. As a freshman, it’s easy to see how skilled and talented she is. Sinclair led all scorers with 19 points against Spanaway.

“She’s very special and the crazy thing is she still has so much to learn at the same time. She tried to do what she could at the end of the game,” Anderson said. ”It’s gonna be great to see her grow even more.”

Iyana Waltar brings the ball up the floor for Decatur. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Senior Iyanna Waltar was visibly upset after the game, a game where she only tallied five points. She has game-breaking potential and just couldn’t find a rhythm on the offensive side of the floor. Anderson’s aim is to keep her confidence high because he knows what she is capable of.

“I just have to let her know it is okay, we all make mistakes. It’s just about breaking those mistakes,” Anderson said. “We are gonna watch it on film together and she’ll be able to see how to fix those mistakes.”

Decatur heads to Glacier Peak on Dec. 29 for the Top of the Peak Tournament.