The Federal Way girls basketball team is learning how to win big games, which isn’t good news for the rest of the South Puget Sound League North Division.

The young Eagles upset the two-time Class 3A state champion Auburn Riverside Ravens Thursday night in Federal Way, 62-59, after a game-tying 3-point attempt by Auburn Riverside’s Brooklynn Hinkens’ bounced off the back of the rim as time expired.

But Federal Way couldn’t keep the momentum going Saturday night when the Eagles (7-3 in the North, 10-4 overall) were beaten by the Kentwood Conquerors for the second time this season, 76-64. Kentwood (9-0, 12-0) is currently the third-ranked team in the nation and clearly the class of the SPSL North.

Things started off solid for the Eagles Saturday night. Federal Way jumped out to a 23-16 lead after the first quarter, but couldn’t hold the lead. Kentwood outscored the Eagles, 28-9, in the second quarter to take a 44-32 halftime lead.

Federal Way attempted to comeback in the third quarter, pulling to within four points to start the fourth quarter, but the veteran Conquerors pulled away in the final eight minutes.

The Eagles had four players score in double figures, led by the 15 points of sophomore Brittany Barrington. Sophomore TyShana Burgess finished with 13 points, senior Jacqie Evenson and freshman Darah Huertas-Vining both chipped in 12 points. Kentwood was led by the 24 points of senior guard Lindsey Moore, who has already signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Nebraska.

Federal Way currently sits in third place, one game behind Auburn Riverside (7-2). The Eagles victory over the Ravens Thursday night avenges an early-season, 17-point loss to fifth-ranked Auburn Riverside. The Ravens will take on Kentwood Tuesday.

Thursday night’s game wasn’t as close as the final score. The Eagles, who start four sophomores and a senior, built up a 12-point lead late in the the third quarter, but Auburn Riverside slowly chipped away during the fourth quarter before coming up short.

The Ravens trailed by two with just 17 seconds left to play with senior Nichole Jackson at the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game. But Jackson missed both attempts and Auburn Riverside was forced to foul. Federal Way senior Jacqie Evenson made 1 of 2 to give the Eagles the three-point cushion.

Federal Way pounded the ball inside to 6-foot-2 Talia Walton and 6-0 TyShana Burgess. The two sophomores both finished with double-doubles for the Eagles. Burgess had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Walton, a first-team All-SPSL North selection as a freshman, chipped in 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Federal Way also got another solid all-around game from senior Jacqie Evenson. The 5-10 guard finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Hinkens and Amanda Thompson each scored 16 for Auburn Riverside.

In other girls action:

at Rogers 54, Decatur 36

The Gators (5-4, 5-7) could only muster 36 points against the Rams (6-1, 6-4) Saturday night. Rogers led by only two points at halftime, but outscored Decatur, 34-18, in the second half.

at Decatur 47, Spanaway Lake 28

The Gators continued to dominate on the defensive side of the ball. This time the victim was Spanaway Lake Thursday night. On the season, Decatur is holding opponents to just 44 points a game.

Decatur held the Sentinels (1-7, 2-9) scoreless during the fourth quarter to come away with the victory. The Gators remain in fourth place in the SPSL South, which would earn them a spot in the postseason just a year after finishing 1-19 and 0-16 in the SPSL South.

Decatur was led by the 16 points of senior Yonnie Coleman and 12 from senior Sarah Quantz.

at Jefferson 43, Auburn 41

The Raiders (6-3. 9-3) trailed by two entering the fourth quarter at home Thursday night, but escaped with a victory over the Trojans. The win leaves TJ one game back of Federal Way and Auburn Riverside for second place in the North.

Jefferson was led by 14 points from Unique Taufa’asau and 10 from Stacy Albrecht.

at Emerald Ridge 54, Beamer 48

The Titans (1-7, 1-10) couldn’t stop Shannon Byrne Thursday night. Byrne torched Beamer for 33 points. The Titans were led by 18 points from Mercedes Sullivan and 17 from Meghan Graf.