Boys basketball: Beamer splits games with Rogers, Puyallup; Decatur clinches SPSL South crown

The Todd Beamer Titans boys basketball team is a hard one to figure. The Titans have been somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde during the South Puget Sound League South Division season.

“They are an interesting bunch,” said first-year head coach Brent Brilhante. “Not afraid of anyone, can beat anyone, but can lose to anyone.”

Beamer put together one of their “good” games Thursday when they blew away the Rogers Rams in Puyallup, 82-64. The Titans followed with a heart-breaking loss to the Puyallup Vikings Saturday, 67-64 The split against the two Puyallup schools moved the Titans to 8-6 in the SPSL South and into fifth place in the South DIvision. The win over Rogers also clinched a berth into the West Central District Tournament, which will start later this month.

Decatur (13-1, 16-2), Curtis (11-3, 15-4) and Puyallup (10-3, 13-4) sit in the first three spots in the nine-team league and Rogers is in fourth (9-5). The top-five finishers advance into the West Central District Tournament.

The 18-point win over Rogers gives the Titans a little revenge. The Rams demolished Beamer earlier in the regular season, 62-32, on the Titans home court.

“We played really bad last time,” Brilhante said.

Beamer got another huge game from senior Kevin Davis. The 6-foot-8 wing recorded his second triple-double of the season with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Rogers. The Titans also got 18 points from sophomore Napa Mefi and 16 from guard Vlad Aficiuc.

Beamer jumped out to a 23-19 lead after the first quarter and extended the lead to 42-28 at halftime.

Davis was also solid Saturday against Puyallup. The senior led four Titans in double figures with 21 points. Mefi finished with 19, Aficiuc had 11 and Chase Hildebrandt had 10 points. Beamer trailed 44-30 at halftime.

The Titans travel to Graham-Kapowsin on Thursday in their SPSL South regular-season finale.

at Decatur 70, Graham-Kapowsin 53

The No. 3-ranked Gators (13-1, 16-2) clinched at least a tie for the SPSL South Division championship with a 17-point win over Graham-Kapowsin Saturday night. Decatur is two games ahead of Puyallup and Curtis with two regular-season games to play. The Gators could have won the division outright with a win last night over Beamer (after press time).

Decatur got a season-high 25 points from senior Cam Schilling.

Jefferson 61, at Auburn Riverside 58

The Raiders got by the Ravens Saturday night in Auburn after outscoring Auburn Riverside, 24-17, in the fourth quarter. Jefferson got 26 points from senior Cramer Doughty and 17 from Xavyr Moss. The win moved the Raiders to 6-9 in the North and 7-10 overall.

Federal Way 93, at Kentlake 52

The No. 1-ranked Eagles and junior Cole Dickerson were too much for the Falcons Saturday night. Dickerson tallied 34 points during the Federal Way win. Senior Andre Barrington finished with 19 and sophomore Isiah Umipig had his best game of the season with 17. Federal Way (12-2, 16-2) remained in a tie with Kentwood for the top spot in the North Division. The two teams split their two meetings during the regular season.

Federal Way 73, at Jefferson 48

The Eagles got 25 points from junior Cole Dickerson, 16 from Barrington and 10 from Michael Hale Thursday night.

Jefferson was led by the 13 points each from Moss and Sam Sanford in their final home game of the year.

Decatur 63, at Bethel 44

The Gators trailed 15-12 after the first quarter at Bethel, but outscored the Braves, 51-29, in the final three quarters Thursday night. Decatur got 20 points from Marcus Tibbs, 15 from Jordan McCloud, 11 from Jerron Smith and nine from Dominic Ricciardelli.

The Gators can clinch the SPSL South Division championship with a victory over Beamer Tuesday night or a loss by Puyallup.