Strength in numbers has been the Golden State Warriors’ playoff mantra for a couple of years now, and that same mentality can be said about the Federal Way High School Eagles boys basketball team.

After a start that broke a lot of records, the Federal Way found themselves 0-2 and coming off their first loss to Todd Beamer in over a decade. The Eagles were facing their toughest challenge yet: Themselves.

Since that 44-36 loss, Coach Yattah Reed has gotten Federal Way to right the ship — and came into their matchup with Kentwood on a two-game winning streak.

“From the first two games to where we are at right now, they are starting to believe and trust each other,” Reed said.

Reed owned up to the fact that he had to make some coaching adjustments to get the Eagles going in the right direction.

“In the first two games, it wasn’t their fault, it was mine. I took the blame for those two losses … I had to change my coaching. I can’t coach the same way. We’ve got different personnel, so we gotta find what works the best. I think that’s what’s happening now,” Reed said.

Junior Jacob Hurskin looks to score against Kentwood. He finished with 11 points. Ben Ray / The Mirror

These two sides matched up last year, and Federal Way dominated 101-38. It was Federal Way’s highest scoring game of the year last year and Kentwood’s lowest total all season. This year proved to be a much more competitive game than a year prior.

The Eagles extended their win streak to three, with a 56-49 win on Dec. 14 against Kentwood. After a slim one point lead at halftime, Reed was proud of the way the team played in the second half.

“They’re just trusting each other more,” Reed said.

“At this point we’re rolling a little bit right now. My teammates are starting to trust each other more and playing amazing as a team. All the work we have been putting in throughout the summer is finally starting to show,” Senior Kofi Peyton said.

Federal Way started out strong in the first quarter leading 11-2, but stumbled late, and Kentwood found its way back into the game at the end of the quarter, when the Eagles led 17-13.

The game shifted in the second quarter, but for Federal Way offensively, it fell apart. The Eagles went 5:22 without a made basket. Kentwood held Federal Way to seven points in the quarter. Senior CJ Bible kept the Eagles alive with five of those seven points in the second quarter.

Brayden McVey plays defense against Kentwood. (Ben Ray / The Mirror)

With just a one-point lead at halftime, the Eagles just had to reset and get back to playing Federal Way basketball.

“We just told them the game is all about runs. We went on a run then they went on a run. Now we have to limit their runs. We did that by taking better shots, and executing better… I was just challenging them and they rose to the occasion,” Reed said.

“We’ve started to take practice more serious and understand how serious it could be later down the road. We’re locking in, from the first player coming into the game and last guy on the bench. Everybody is locking in,” Peyton said.

After two three-pointers in the first quarter and no points in the second, the lone returning starter, Kofi Peyton got going. He finished with 10 second-half points, securing the win for the Eagles.

“As the lone returner it’s about getting him to understand to trust your team. Even though he wants to be the captain and lead these guys, he doesn’t have to do all that,” Reed said.

“Tonight, he was taking better shots in the flow of the offense. Credit to his teammates for finding him. I’m just proud of him, all of these things are an improvement from what we’ve been seeing,” Reed said.

Reed said Peyton watched film from the Eagles’ win over Kentridge and learned what shots to take and pass up.

“He took a couple of bad shots against Kentridge. We watched film and talked about it and he took the challenge. I’m proud of him,” Reed said.

Defensively, the Eagles held Kentwood to just seven points.

“It was about getting back to Federal Way basketball. And get these guys as a whole collective to understand defense. I am proud of them that we are making progress and improvement,” Reed said.

Confidence is building and the Eagles are playing better because of it.

“I’m confident in where my team is going right now,” Peyton said.

Federal Way is tied in league play with the Tahoma Bears entering the week before Christmas, and take on Evergreen Dec. 26 at Silas High School.

Senior CJ Bible kept the Eagles in the game with five second quarter points. (Ben Ray / The Mirror)