Losing to two of the state's top-ranked teams back-to-back last week might have been a blessing in disguise for the Federal Way High basketball team.

The youthful Eagles, who are trying to find their identity after losing four starters to graduation last year, were plagued by numerous turnovers in losses to Garfield and Curtis.

Eagles coach Jerome Collins made a subtle change against Graham-Kapowsin Friday night, inserting Beamer transfer Napa Mefi at point guard and it paid big dividends.

Federal Way played confidently and efficiently with Mefi's direction, beating G-K with a vengeance, 76-39.
"We took him (Mefi) from the two-guard spot to the point," Collins said. "He controlled the tempo. He got us in our offensive sets and he called out the defenses. He did a fantastic job."

Federal Way had only 10 turnovers, compared to 25 to Curtis and 18 to Garfield in its previous games.

"We really cut down on our turnovers and were able to get some looks at the basket, that makes all the difference in the world," Collins said. "Turnovers handicap you. We took care of the ball tonight."
Federal Way put the game out of reach for G-K early.

The Eagles' torrid transition game was running on all cylinders with its trapping, pressing defense and they exploded for a 24-5 lead with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter. G-K never recovered.

In that flurry, senior guard Deshea Bell, a Kennedy transfer, had three steals and scored six points, freshman wing DeeShawn Tucker had seven points, including one easy basket off a feed from Mefi and senior guard Jerry Duckworth added two consecutive 3-pointers. Freshman post Eugene Artisan had two blocks and sophomore Rashawn Goosby-Fields had one in that sequence, electrifying the crowd.

"Bell and Duckworth did a great job making reads, getting in passing lanes and pressuring the basketball," Collins said.

The Eagles jumped to their biggest lead, 41-17, opening the third quarter with two quick baskets. Mefi scored on an easy layup off a DeeShawn Tucker steal and assist and Artisan added a 3-pointer from the left corner.

Tucker had eight points and a game-high 12 assists in the game, including a fine no-look pass to Mefi for a score late in the third quarter.

Tucker started the first four games at point guard for the Eagles before getting moved to wing after struggling against Curtis and Garfield.

"Tucker managed well against Puyallup and Emerald Ridge, but Curtis and Garfield are experienced ballclubs and they gave us different kinds of looks," Collins said. "To his credit, he (Tucker) is young (freshman), he is a warrior and he learned from it. We made a move that was best for the team."

Perhaps the best executed play of the game came at the start of the fourth quarter with the Eagles leading 49-32. Mefi stole the ball, passed to DeeShawn Tucker, who passed to Bell for an easy layup. That play ignited a dominating 27-7 run to end the game.

"I liked our team chemistry," Collins said. "We shared the ball."

Duckworth led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Mefi (13) and freshman wing Deonte Anderson (10). G-K sophomore post Dane Fjeld had 10 points.

What looks like a rebuilding year for Federal Way, who were state Class 4A champs two years ago and have been to the state tournament four consecutive times, just might be a case of reloading.

The Eagles' young but talented group of five freshman and three sophomores on the varsity roster and the stabilizing influence of seniors Nefi (Beamer's all-time leading scorer), Bell (who averaged 21 points a game for Kennedy last year), Duckworth and Stanley Matau just might get the Eagles deep into the playoffs again.
Federal Way (3-2, 3-0 in league) plays at Rogers next on Jan. 4.