Pleasant, Weems pace No. 4 Federal Way past No. 6 Skyline in 4A state quarterfinals
Dace Pleasant played in the Class 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome for the first time as a freshman in 2020.
The Eagles won their first-round game that season, but lost to eventual state champion Mount Si in the quarterfinals, and just missed out on a spot in a placing game the following day with a consolation game loss to Sumner.
The annual state tournament wasn’t played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, when Federal Way lost on the opening day to Gonzaga Prep, cutting the program’s trip to the Tacoma Dome short.
This season, the No. 4 seed Eagles wanted to set the tone early.
“It was really important,” Pleasant said following the Eagles’ state quarterfinals win Thursday over No. 6 Skyline. “Last year we didn’t like that feeling. We lost first round, so this game was just, get back into it.”
Pleasant led the way with a game-high 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals, and Federal Way left no doubt this season’s run would continue on in the semifinals, running away from the Spartans in the second half in a 69-53 victory.
“We had to make sure we came in here and made a statement for everyone, because our season didn’t end the way we wanted it to last year,” Eagles’ forward Vaughn Weems said. “So, we just wanted to make sure we came in here and got our W.”
Federal Way shot 25-of-48 (52.3 percent) from the floor and 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from 3-point range, and finished with four scorers in double figures.
Weems neared a triple-double with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Dane Lewis added 12 points and Colton West had 11 and six rebounds.
“We can be very dangerous,” Weems said of the Eagles’ efficient scoring effort. “We can make a very long run in this tournament if we can keep shooting the way we’re shooting.”
Federal Way built a lead that reached as many as 22 points in the second half, and the Eagles’ defense consistently kept Skyline — which advanced to the quarterfinals with an overtime win over No. 11 Davis in Wednesday’s opening round — out of reach.
Nahmier Robinson paced the Spartans with 15 points, while Trey Crandall added 13 and six rebounds.
Skyline (20-7) plays the loser of Thursday morning’s quarterfinals matchup between No. 10 Camas and No. 1 Curtis — the defending 4A state champion — at 9 a.m. Thursday in a loser-out, consolation game.
The Eagles (24-2) advance to play the winner of that game with confidence high heading into the final weekend of the season.
“We’re feeling great right now,” Weems said.
Federal Way’s semifinals matchup is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Friday, and the Eagles are ready for a tough contest.
“Every team here is good,” Weems said. “You can’t come in and think, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re about to just beat this team.’ We’ve got to make sure we take it quarter-by-quarter.”
“Just keep playing defense, play as a team and keep sharing the ball,” Pleasant said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 11:19 AM.
