It has been a season of almost for the Todd Beamer boys basketball team. Again, the Titans played one of the teams on top of them in the South Puget Sound League South Division tough.
But, just like before, Beamer couldn’t close the deal and lost to the ninth-ranked Curtis Vikings Tuesday night, 82-79. The Titans (5-5 in the South, 6-8 overall) remain in fifth place in the South, behind Decatur (9-1), Puyallup (7-1), Curtis (9-2) and Rogers (6-4). Beamer is 0-5 against those four teams this season.
The Titans had a chance Tuesday night in University Place thanks to the play of junior guard Vlad Aficiuc and senior forward Kevin Davis. The 5-foot-10 Aficiuc scored 32 points on 13-of-17 shooting and Davis had 25 points for Beamer.
The Titans cut the Curtis lead to one point with 16 seconds left in the game, but Curtis’ sophomore guard Davonte Lacy hit two free throws to finalize the score. In total, the Vikings finished with 13 three-pointers. Lacy and Chad Rasmussen each scored 20 points and Dominique Williams chipped in 16. The threesome also combined to go 13 of 21 behind the 3-point line.
Beamer trailed 39-25 at halftime, but made a game of it in the second half, thanks to Aficiuc and Davis. The Titans have six games remaining and the top-five teams from the South Division advance to the SPSL Tournament.
at Decatur 95, Emerald Ridge 54
The Gators (9-1, 12-2) remained on top of the SPSL South with a blowout win over Emerald Ridge Tuesday. The win came a day after losing to Federal Way at the King Holiday Hoopfest.
Sophomore Jerron Smith continued his strong season with 20 points. Senior guard Marcus Tibbs finished with 19 points and nine assists and junior Jordan McCloud chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-ranked Gators.
Decatur played Puyallup last night (after press time) with first place up for grabs. The Gators will take on third-place Curtis Tuesday in Federal Way.
Kentlake 65, at Jefferson 63
The Raiders (4-7, 5-8) couldn’t hold the lead in the fourth quarter Tuesday night and lost a tough game to Kentlake. Jefferson led by three, 44-41, entering the final eight minutes.
The Raiders were led by a career-high 21 points by junior guard Justin Lanier, who hit 7 of 10 three-pointers. Senior Xavyr Moss chipped in 14 points.
Girls Basketball
Jefferson 39, at Kentlake 30
The Raiders (7-3 in SPSL North, 10-3 overall) overcame a one-point deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring Kentlake, 17-7, during the period. Jefferson trailed 18-9 at halftime. The win kept TJ in a third-place tie with Federal Way in the North Division. Kentwood leads at 10-0 and Auburn Riverside is 8-3.
The Raiders were led by the 19 points of junior guard Hannah Kiyohara.
at Beamer 64, Curtis 34
The Titans (2-8, 2-11) blew out Curtis Tuesday night to pick up their second win of the season. Beamer was led by the 21 points of Mercedes Sullivan and 14 from sophomore Shyla Akins.
at Emerald Ridge 69, Decatur 53
The Gators (5-5, 5-8) couldn’t keep up with the Emerald Ridge Jaguars (6-4, 7-6) Tuesday night in Puyallup despite 23 points from Sarah Quantz. The loss dropped Decatur into fifth place in the South.
