It was kind of a foregone conclusion for the ultra-talented Federal Way girls basketball team, but the Eagles clinched their third consecutive berth into the Class 4A State Tournament Friday with a blowout win over Skyview of Vancouver.
Third-ranked Federal Way (22-2) beat up Skyview, 67-45, in the quarterfinals of the 4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District game at Rogers High School. The Eagles followed the state-clinching victory over Skyview with another win over the currently top-ranked Bellarmine Prep Lions in a district semifinal Saturday at Auburn High.
The two victories landed Federal Way, who spent a large portion of the season as the No. 1-team in the state, a spot in the district title game. The Eagles will take on the upstart Mount Rainier Rams at 6 p.m. at Kent’s Showare Center on Monday. Mount Rainier beat the last two 4A state champions on consecutive nights with wins over Kentwood and Auburn Riverside.
Against Skyview, who won the Greater St. Helen’s League, the Eagles got an unexpected 15 points from senior Talia Walton. The University of Washington-bound Walton had missed Federal Way’s last two games after injuring her knee during a practice two weeks ago.
Federal Way also got double-digit scoring from Dyesha Belhumeur, Darah Huertas-Vining and Brittany Barrington. Belhumeur tallied a game-high 20 points, Huertas-Vining finished with 13 and Barrington chipped in 11. Federal Way also forced 34 turnovers by Skyview.
The Eagles continued to roll against Bellarmine Saturday. Federal Way outscored the Narrows League champions in all four quarter and had four players score in double figures. Walton led the Eagles with 20 points, Barrington finished with 13, Raven Benton added 11 and Huertas-Vining chipped in 10.
Bellarmine (20-3) got 22 points from Sarah Hartwell, but she was the only Lion to score in double figures.
Decatur
The Gators’ season came to an end Saturday night with a 55-26 loss to Auburn Mountainview at the 3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District Tournament at Clover Park High School.
Auburn Mountainview outscored the Gators 18-8 in the first quarter and cruised. Decatur (8-17) was led by the 11 points of Ashley McBroom.
Beamer
The Titans’ first-ever postseason appearance came to an end Friday night with a 61-40 loss to Evergreen at the 4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District Tournament at Franklin Pierce High School.
The Plainsmen held the Titans (13-10) to just eight points in the first half on just 10 percent shooting from the field. Evergreen also forced 16 turnovers during the first two quarters. The Plainsmen extended the lead to as many as 30 points during the third quarter.
Shyla Akins led the Titans with 19 points and freshman Megan Huff finished with 11.
