It was the end of perfection and a 29-game winning streak on Monday, but the quest for a repeat state championship continues.

Against the powerful and agile presence of 6-foot-9 senior guard Terrence Jones, the defending Class 4A state champion Federal Way Eagles and current No. 1 rated Federal Way Eagles suffered a 62-58 loss to the current and twice defending Oregon Class 5A boys basketball champion and current No. 1-ranked Jefferson of North Portland Democrats in the main event game of the 2010 King Holiday Hoopfest held at Bank of America Arena in Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the University of Washington.

Eagle head basketball coach Jerome Collins counts no long term benefits in losing a close regular season game and wants his players to learn and remember this feeling.

"I just hate to lose," said Collins. "Some coaches believe a loss is good for you. I don't. I'd much rather win close and learn from that and still be in the win column."

Advertised as one of the top seniors in the nation, and still uncommitted to a college, Jefferson's Jones altered Eagle shots and movements and eventually, the course of the game with 22 points, nine rebounds, eight blocked shots and four steals.

"It's just his presence...him being so big and being able to do so many things," observed Federal Way point guard Isiah Umipig, who came on in the second half to end with 15 points. "It kind of bothered us. We played hard at the end. That's about the only good thing (today). We don't want to lose to anyone in the state. Last year we went 28-2 and still won (the state championship). We'll take the ring any day."

Jefferson commanded its presence from the opening tip by using a terrorizing interior defense and quick-transition offense that led to repeated dunks, but Federal Way stayed within 18-14 after one quarter.

Uncharacteristically out of rhythm, the Eagles turned the ball over repeatedly, lost the rebound battles and shot only 38 percent for the game.

Forward Cole Dickerson, who normally regularly pumps out double-double games, was weakened by a week-long stomach bug.

Although he showed the effects of the stomach flu, the 6-foot-7 forward powered his way to 14 of his team high 18 points in the second half. Dickerson shot 7-for-18 from the field and recovered nine rebounds.

"I wasn't really in the groove of things," he said. "I guess that's what you'd expect after being sick."

Battling its way through all this, Federal Way (12-1) still managed to threaten Jefferson (10-3).

After the Democrats campaigned hard for a 32-22 halftime lead with Eagle Robert Christopher scoring nine of his 12 points to help Federal Way stay in reach, the Eagles hung tough to rally back twice from large deficits to stay in the fight.

Although it had only one tie at 2-2 and never led, Federal Way, ranked No. 5 in the West Region and No. 28 nationally by ESPN RISE, erased the better part of a 15-point fourth quarter disadvantage with a 15-4 spurt to trail 56-52 with 1:52 left on Robert Christopher's twisting lay up.

Regaining possession after Christopher blocked a Jefferson shot and the Democrats missed a shot, Federal Way turned the ball over in back court, allowing Stephen Madison to drive to a standard three-point play that put the game out of reach.

At 6-foot-6, Madison scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Andrew Roundtree added 11 rebounds in a Democrat 44-37 landslide win on the team rebounding.

"Those guys controlled us," stated Collins. "Jones is a heck of an athlete. We didn't come and play with the kind of energy and awareness that we are accustomed to seeing. In spite of all of it, we still had a chance down the stretch in different intervals during the course of the fourth and third quarters. We just had lapses of concentration each time."

"It'll be interesting to see how we handle it. We want to come back with some pride. We have a lot of tradition, a lot of pride. I don't have any doubt in my mind that these kids will bounce back."

This encounter of the highest order was the marquee match up in a full day of games and other events to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. Coach Collins took a moment to reflect upon the day.

"It's a tremendous honor and pleasure to be playing at this and being part of honoring the spirit of Dr Martin Luther King.," he declared. "We remember his struggle and sacrifices to better society."