The Eagles took off at the tipoff of the 4A district boys basketball championship Saturday and came back with the championship after dominating Kentwood 74-56.

Both teams came into the game after easily sailing through the district brackets leading to the championship.

Federal Way and the Conquerors were at the top of their South Puget Sound League divisions. The Eagles had beaten Kentwood 77-64 Jan. 16  on the Conks’ court, but the game was closer than the score.

The rematch was expected to be a battle by both sides.

The difference between January and Saturday was Federal Way used a formula of four quarters of stingy defense, solid work on the boards and methodical execution of its offense.

It was a equation the Conks could not solve and the game was never close.

Both teams now move to the regional tournament.

Federal Way plays Timberline at 8 p.m. today, Friday, at Puyallup High in a loser out, winner to state game.

The Eagles ran off 10 points in the first quarter before Kentwood got a glimpse of an open shot.

Federal Way ran out to a 25-11 lead by the end of the first 8 minutes, which was the plan coach Jerome Collins had in mind.

“In the last game we came out flat (against Curtis),” Collins said. “This game they were more intense and played smart.”

Collins said he emphasized to the player in practice they would have to establish themselves on both ends of the court.

“Everything starts with the defense,” Collins said. “The intensity was there defensively. Collectively we did great.”

On the offensive side, Ferron Flavors scored a game high 29 points.

Collins said Marcus Stephens scoring 12 was a big help to the team in the stretch.

“The guys stuck together,” Collins said.

Viont’e Daniels dropped in 12, Jalen McDaniels added nine and Christian Jones five.

Along with balanced scoring, Collins noted the teams’ rebounding job.

“They did a tremendous job on the glass,” he said. “We knew that was the key. They (Kentwood) likes to pound the glass.”