The Federal Way Eagles started the 2009-10 basketball season Tuesday night just like they ended last year — extremely impressively.

The defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Eagles blew away the ninth-ranked Lincoln Abes Tuesday night, 110-85, inside the Federal Way High School gymnasium. It was the season opener for both teams.

The game, pitting two of the best programs in the state in recent years, was decided early. Federal Way’s pressure defense forced the Abes into 10 first-quarter turnovers and allowed the Eagles to build a commanding 37-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Lincoln mounted a little bit of a comeback during the final five minutes of the second quarter, but it was too little, too late. The Eagles led 61-35 at halftime.

Federal Way was led by senior Cole Dickerson. The University of San Francisco-bound forward finished with a game-high 29 points, including 19 before halftime. Dickerson was helped by the 19 points of senior guard Isiah Umipig, who had 17 before halftime. Fellow seniors Robert Christopher and George Williams also scored in double figures for the Eagles. Christopher, who started numerous games last year, finished with 18 points and Williams added 14.

Senior guard Tyrell Lewis, a transfer from Mount Rainier High School, had nine points in his Federal Way debut.

The Eagles open up their South Puget Sound League North Division season Friday night when they travel to Auburn Riverside before visiting the fourth-ranked Kentwood Conquerors and their UCLA-bound center, Josh Smith, Tuesday.

Federal Way 110, Lincoln 85 (Tuesday)

Lincoln 9 26 29 21 — 85

Federal Way 37 24 27 22 — 110

Lincoln — Coley 9, Clay 5, Dansby 4, Horsley 4, Barsh 2, Russel 16, Horace 15, Wright 14.

Federal Way — Cole Dickerson 29, Isiah Umipig 19, Robert Christopher 18, George Williams 13, Tyrell Lewis 9, Jerry Duckworth 8, Roosevelt Jones 7, Jaylon Flowers 2, Eaton Wade 2, Rian Miller 1, Goosby-Fields 2.

Decatur 58, Stadium 52 (Tuesday)

The defending SPSL South champion and ninth-ranked Gators were forced to mount a second-half comeback during their season opener Tuesday against the Stadium Tigers. The Gators (1-0) outscored Stadium 41-27 in the second half to walk away with the six-point win on their home court.

Decatur was led by the 21 points of junior Jerron Smith. The 6-foot-3 Smith was a first-team, All-SPSL South selection a season ago. Junior point guard Terrell Williams finished with 17 points and senior Jordan McCloud added 10 for the Gators.

The Tigers jumped on Decatur early, outscoring them 13-6 in the first quarter and took a 25-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. But the Gators went on a 20-8 run during the third quarter to get back in the game.

Decatur opens its SPSL South season Friday night at Spanaway Lake.

Decatur 58, Stadium 52 (Tuesday)

Stadium 13 12 8 19 — 52

Decatur 6 11 20 21 — 58

Stadium — Fujita 12, Walters 12, Henley 11, Briscoe 5, Hillis 4, Stumph 4, Barnes 2, Nelson 2.

Decatur — Jerron Smith 21, Terrell Williams 17, Jordan McCloud 10, Terrance Peters 6, Clayvon Davis 4.