Gary Bell had it easy during the first quarter.
The Kentridge guard scored nine points in the first 4 minutes, 30 seconds of play as the Chargers took an early 13-6 lead over No. 1-ranked Federal Way.
It didn’t take long for the Eagles to tighten up the defense on Bell, holding him to just eight points over the final three quarters, resulting in a runaway, 95-67 victory for Federal Way.
Bell, one of the top junior recruits on the West Coast, had 14 points in the first quarter while Kentridge clung to a 20-19 lead.
But Federal Way sent a swarm of fresh defenders after Bell, and he labored to get off shots for the remainder of the game.
Federal Way’s defensive stoppers included Jerry Duckworth, George Williams, Robert Christopher and Isiah Umipig.
“They ran fresh bodies at him all night,” said Kentridge coach Dave Jamison, who clearly was impressed by the Eagles. “They work very hard, and they play together, and they get after you.”
Federal Way (13-1, 10-0 SPSL North) took its first lead by going on a 12-2 scoring spree to start the second quarter.
Kentridge hung around for a while. When Dylan Zylstra took a feed from Denzel Daniels for an easy bucket right before halftime, Federal Way’s lead was just 41-34.
The Eagles were playing their first game since suffering their only loss – Monday to Portland’s Jefferson High School.
“After we lost, everybody thinks we’re beatable and stuff,” said Federal Way senior Cole Dickerson. “We were up seven at halftime, and we knew that if we didn’t get the game under control then, it was going to be close throughout the game. We went out there and played with high intensity.”
Dickerson scored 32 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. The senior forward was able to score almost at will over the smaller Chargers in the post.
It was a nice return to form for Dickerson. The University of San Francisco recruit had been battling the stomach flu.
Umipig scored seven points during an 11-0 scoring blitz midway through the third quarter – a spurt that left Federal Way with a 58-39 lead.
Umipig, who has committed to play at Cal-State Fullerton next year, scored 21 points and had six rebounds.
For Bell, it was just a tough final three quarters. He finished with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting. Zylstra added 13 points for Kentridge (11-5, 8-4).
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