Persistent Puyallup profited greatly from three key plays in the fourth quarter to unseat SPSL 4A South second place Decatur 67-62 on Friday and set back the Gators' efforts to keep pace with first place Curtis while also throwing second place into a three team scramble between Decatur (9-3), Todd Beamer (8-3) and Puyallup (8-3). Curtis stands at 13-1.

"Every time we had a little five or four point lead lead, they'd get a big play to keep us from expanding our advantage to 10 or 12 points," Decatur head coach Kevin Olson ruefully recalled. "Give them credit. They're a good team and made the plays. Three plays in the fourth quarter really set us back."

Puyallup ran down long rebounds for a 6-0 spurt in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to regain the lead at 54-50 with 6:43 left in regulation. It was the first lead for the Vikings since 3:15 showed on the scoreboard clock in the first quarter.

Gator guard Jerron Smith's turn around three-point goal later sliced the gap to 54-53 and Jordan McCloud brought Decatur back within 56-55 with just more than five minutes left when he was whistled for a technical foul for critical play No. 1. Lightning quick 5-foot-2 inch senior guard Jare Sager converted the pair of technical foul shots before Puyallup used the ensuing possession for an Erin Barber field goal.

The Gators failed to score on their next possession, leading to a Jay Balmer field goal as the Vikings pulled away, 62-55, with 4:20 remaining.

Flowing back from the momentum changing action, Decatur charged back with defensive stops to trail only 62-58 after a Terrell Williams lay in with three minutes left.

Balmer's three-pointer for Puyallup shifted the tide back to the Vikings as the second crucial play of the quarter. Terrell Williams once gain gave the Gators hope on two free throws that reduced the deficit to 65-60 with less than two minute showing.

Following a Puyallup time out, Decatur gained possession on a steal to set up the third important play that doomed the Gators as 1:38 showed on the clock. Anthony Williams powered to the basket for an apparent lay up, but an official's whistle intervened to nullify the hoop while saddling Williams with a player controlled foul.

The clock turned into an positive partner for Puyallup while Decatur tried to work the ball around for good shots. With 10.3 seconds left, the Gators were within 65-62, but the Vikings converted two charity tosses to clinch the verdict.

"We just have to regroup for Curtis," concluded Olson.

Decatur takes the perilous plunge to University Place against Curtis on Tuesday.

First quarter action exhibited the Gators' dynamic defense, rebounding and quick transition tactics along with a Dominique Hunter three-point bomb to turn a Decatur 10-9 first quarter deficit into a 20-10 dominance before Puyallup rallied to trail only 20-15 going into the second quarter.

From that point, the Gators built and maintained margins of two to six points throughout the match up, but were unable to completely shake off the the Vikings until the fatal fourth quarter finale.

Jerron Smith contributed a huge first half defensively and offensively with 16 points on the path to a game high 22 Gator points while recovering seven rebounds. Anthony Williams added 13 points and 12 rebounds and teammate Terrell Williams scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists.

Barber bombed from the outside and inside as a thorn in Decatur's side for 19 Puyallup tallies. Sager rushed for 15 points and Dom Holub scored 14 points.