Decatur and local rival Federal Way never played against each other this winter, but they did have common opponents including Gonzaga Prep at the state Class 4A boys basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.
One day after the Bullpups almost beat No. 1-ranked Federal Way, the Decatur Gators followed suit and beat Gonzaga by three, 48-45, in Friday, March 5 action.
"I think it's a good win," said Decatur head coach Kevin Olson. "Federal Way won the game last night, but Gonzaga was right in there and for us to beat them is huge."
Making Olson feel even happier was the fact the win clinched a top-eight state trophy since it got the Gators to the last day of action.
"Our goal was to get to Saturday," said Olson. "You get a trophy."
Decatur had to hold off the Bullpups to get the win Friday.
The Gators led, 43-38, after a three-point basket by Jerron Smith with 3:54 to play.
Parker Kelly of Gonzaga of Spokane answered with a three-pointer to close the Gators' lead to 43-41 with 2:37 left, before Decatur's Anthony Williams sank two free throws at the 2:29 mark to up the lead to 45-41.
Kelly hit a turn-around jumper for the Bullpups at 1:58 that put the gap back to only 45-43. Jordan McCloud of the Gators got one of the free throws back at 1:22 to make it 46-43, but Gonzaga shaved it real close as Ryan Nicholas hit two free throws at 1:07 to go for only a 46-45 deficit.
But McCloud stepped back up to hit an outside shot for two points with 35 seconds to go that put Decatur back up, 48-45.
The Bullpups then came up empty on a three-point attempt with 4.1 seconds left. Gonzaga quickly fouled Robert Oliver and he missed the front end of the one-and-one with 4.1 seconds still remaining.
Abraham Ferrell-Logan of Gonzaga then came up empty on a three-point try to seal the Gators' 48-45 win.
McCloud led Decatur with 14 points and eight rebounds and Terrell Williams led with six assists. Smith scored 12 points and Williams hit 11. Dom Hunter added six points and Anthony Williams five.
Ryan Nicholas scored 26 for the Bullpups.
