No. 2 Class 4A state-ranked Federal Way is retooling its girls basketball arsenal just in time for postseason play.
On Friday the Eagles (13-3 league, 17-3 overall) displayed their current handiwork in a defensively dynamiting 63-39 home victory against Tahoma to force a second place SPSL North Division tie with Kentwood.
Federal Way will play Kentwood on Tuesday at Tahoma to decide the No. 2 North seed to the league tournament held at the Showare Center in Kent and at various home sites.
After losing several players (earlier in the season) for various reasons, the Eagles continued piecing together their once badly depleted squad.
"We were down to seven players (at one time)," Federal Way head coach Danny Graham recalled. "The way we play (with continuing defensive pressure), that's tough. We're still trying to figure it out. We're getting more players into the flow and we need good minutes from everyone, no matter how much they play."
Tahoma took advantage of a slow Federal Way start and even led 9-8 on the strength of outside shooting before Darah Huertas-Vining scored the last three points of the first quarter for an 11-9 Eagle advantage after the first quarter.
With seniors Molly Campbell, Cache' Jones and Tiara Fuller starting and contributing major minutes on senior night, the Lady Eagles fired up the furnace on both ends of the court, racking up 13 unanswered points to open the second stanza.
They held the Bears scoreless until the final three minutes of the half en route to a 26-12 halftime bulge.
For the seniors, especially, it was a splendid ending that led to a greater goal.
"I'm really excited about how we played and I'm looking forward to playoff games," said Campbell.
Continuing its suffocating defense, Federal Way led by 32 points at the end of the third quarter, 50-18, but a combination of reserve players and defensive lapses opened the door for Tahoma to go on a 13-2 scoring surge that brought the score to 52-31 before Talia Walton scored with just more than four minutes in regulation to deflect the rally.
"We finished strongly and we're ready for the postseason," a confident Fuller declared. "We'll end up at the top."
Although the regular season ending game was fruitful, another senior also looked back on her career.
"It's bittersweet," acknowledged Jones. "I've been here for four years and have really enjoyed it."
Huertas-Vining led Federal Way with 12 points and five assists, while Brittany Barrington added 11 points to go with five rebounds, four steals and four assists. Walton hauled in 12 rebounds nine points and Dyesha Belhumeur added nine points.
