By CASEY OLSON, The Mirror
The Thomas Jefferson Raiders’ first trip to the Class 4A State Girls Basketball Tournament since 2003 will have to wait another year.
The Rogers Rams ended Jefferson’s postseason run Wednesday night in a loser-out West Central District Tournament game at Foss High School, 57-53.
Rogers’ win over the Raiders (16-10) enacted a little revenge. Jefferson downed Rogers (9-15) at the South Puget Sound League Tournament, 55-49, earlier this month. During that game, the Raiders outscored Rogers, 19-11, in the fourth quarter to earn the league’s seventh seed into the district tournament.
The fourth quarter Wednesday night was just the opposite. The Rams overcame a two-point TJ lead entering the final eight minutes of play, outscoring the Raiders, 17-11, during the fourth quarter.
Kiara Martinez tallied eight of her 17 points in the fourth for Rogers, who played Foss last night (after press time) for a trip to the state tournament.
Early Wednesday, Jefferson looked like they were going to beat the Rams again after putting together an 18-8 run during the third quarter. The Raiders had all the momentum entering the fourth quarter after trailing 32-24 at halftime.
But it wasn’t meant to be, thanks to Martinez and the Rams.
Jefferson came out a little rusty to start the game. The Raiders didn’t score their first points until midway through the first quarter and trailed 16-9 at the end of the period before mounting their comeback.
Sophomore Unique Taufa’asau was the only reason the Raiders stayed in the game during the first half. Taufa’asau tallied 12 of TJ’s first 22 points and finished with a career-high 18 points. Junior post Stacey Albrecht and freshman point guard Hannah Kiyohara both tallied 11 points each for TJ.
Federal Way 61, Kentlake 49
The Eagles moved one game from playing in their first state tournament in a decade with a 12-point win over Kentlake at Mount Tahoma Wednesday night.
Federal Way (19-5) took on Graham-Kapowsin last night in a winner-to-state, loser-out West Central District game at Auburn High School (after press time).
The Eagles were in total control against Kentlake, building a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. Wednesday’s win over the Falcons (12-13) was the Eagles’ second over Kentlake this season and their eighth win in their last nine games. Their only loss during that streak came in the district quarterfinals to Bellarmine Prep.
Federal Way was led by the 20 points and seven rebounds of freshman guard Brittany Barrington. Senior Briana Bennett tallied 11 points and junior Jacqie Evenson chipped in 10.
The Eagles’ leading scorer, 6-foot-1 freshman Talia Walton, had only two points before suffering a season-ending knee-cap injury during the game.
Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com
