The Todd Beamer girls basketball team has had a goal all year to improve on their third-place finish last season in the state tournament.
If their performance in the South Puget Sound League title game is any indication, they are well on their way to doing so as they defeated the Curtis Vikings 55-31 at the ShoWare Center in Kent on Feb. 4.
A stellar defensive effort in the first quarter shut down any hopes the Vikings had at pulling the upset.
Curtis had six field goal attempts in the first quarter to go with its 10 turnovers.
Beamer capitalized on their disruptive defense by burying the Vikings with a barrage of points. They led 23-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Titans were 7-15 from the floor in the first quarter. They added six more points from the free throw line where they were 6-7.
For the majority of that first quarter, Beamer star player Nia Alexander was sitting on the bench because of a couple of early fouls she picked up. Still, the Titans did not slow down.
“We wanted to come out and make a statement,” Beamer head coach Corey Alexander said. “The statement that Todd Beamer is ready to play.”
Curtis’ first point came at the 7:38 mark of the second quarter on a free throw by Anna Matz.
The rest of the game was a bit more even, but the ending was never in doubt for the Titans. Curtis outscored Beamer 14-10 in the second quarter, but it was the only quarter they won. Beamer would outscore Curtis 32-31 over the final three quarters of the game.
Makenna Woodfolk led the way for the Titans, nearly notching a double-double. The University of Hawaii-bound senior finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, four steals and a block.
Nia Alexander also bounced back after her short first quarter. She was the Titans second-leading scorer with 15 points.
Bria Rice led the team in steals with five. She also added six points.
In all, Beamer forced Curtis to turn the ball over 22 times during the game.
“I think our girls played an awesome game,” Corey Alexander said. “That’s the way Todd Beamer should be playing. We’ve still got work to do, but we’re getting there.”
Jalaiya Fredrick led the Vikings with 15 points and three steals. Kaelin Williams-Kennedy added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Beamer improved to 18-2 on the season with the win and captured their second consecutive SPSL title.
Their two losses this season have come at the hands of 3A powers Lynnwood and Bellevue.
“[Those losses] showed us a lot about where we’re at,” Corey Alexander said. “We can’t just walk in and think that the other team is going to be intimidated. I think our team grew [since then].”
With the win, the Titans earned the top seed to the West Central District tournament from the SPSL.
Curtis (16-6) fell to Kentlake (18-4) on Saturday and earned the third seed. They beat Bethel (11-10) 44-34 on Thursday in the first round of district playoffs.
Beamer defeated South Kitsap (10-10), the fifth seed from the Narrows League, 75-33 in the first round of the district tournament on Thursday.
They will play Olympia in a winner-to-state game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Auburn Mountainview High School.
Six teams from the district tournament will advance to the Regional round of the state tournament.
Federal Way loses SPSL tournament game, district opener
The Eagles found themselves on the losing end when they faced Puyallup in their SPSL tournament matchup on Saturday.
The Vikings won 49-22 and clinched the fifth seed to districts. Federal Way will be the sixth.
Puyallup (16-8) defeated Timberline (9-12), the fourth seed out of the Narrows, 35-31 in the first round of the district tournament on Thursday after the Mirror’s publishing deadline.
Federal Way (6-14) lost to Olympia (13-8), the third seed from the Narrows, 69-37 in the first round of districts on Thursday.
The Eagles face South Kitsap in a loser-out game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Mount Tahoma High School.
Jefferson eliminated from postseason
The season has come to an end for the Thomas Jefferson Raiders after falling to the Kent-Meridian Royals 36-30 on Saturday in a loser-out game.
Jefferson had two opportunities to clinch a spot to the district tournament, starting with their Thursday game against Emerald Ridge. They fell 50-45 to the Jaguars.
The Raiders finished the season with a 6-14 record.
