The upstart Thomas Jefferson Raiders just couldn’t keep up with the unbeaten Kentwood Conquerors. The No. 2-ranked Conks beat TJ Tuesday night, 74-57. It was the first loss of the season by the Raiders (4-1 in the South Puget Sound League North, 6-1 overall).
Kentwood took a 39-23 lead at halftime and cruised in the third and fourth quarters. Jefferson was led by the 22 points of senior Stacy Albrecht and Hannah Kiyohara and Unique Taufa’asau both tallied 11 points.
The Raiders took on Federal Way Friday night (after press time) at home in both teams’ final SPSL North Division game before the Christmas break.
The Eagles improved to 2-2 in the North and 4-2 overall with a 69-46 win over Auburn Tuesday in Federal Way.
The Eagles had four players score in double figures, led by the 23 points of sophomore guard Brittany Barrington. Jacqie Evenson finished with 14 and Darah Huertes-Vining and Amanda Earlywine both scored 10 points each.
The Decatur girls continue to be the biggest surprise in the SPSL South Division. The Gators, who won a total of one game last season and none in the SPSL South, improved to 3-1 in the division with a 55-53 win over the Curtis Vikings Tuesday in Federal Way.
Decatur got 21 points from Sarah Quantz and had a total of six players score at least four points, including eight each by Abby McFaul and Jade Woodke.
The Gators took control of the game in the second quarter by outscoring Curtis, 15-4, during the eight minutes. The Vikings almost came back in the fourth quarter by scoring 26 points, but it wasn’t enough.
Beamer fell to 1-3 in the SPSL South with a heart-breaking loss to Bethel Tuesday night, 54-53. The Titans had a 45-37 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Bethel (1-2, 1-4) outscored Beamer, 17-8, during the final eight minutes.
Mercedes Sullivan led the Titans with 16 points. Meghan Graf (11 points) and Shyla Akins (10) also scored in double figures.
Boys swimming
The Thomas Jefferson Raiders beat cross-district rival Federal Way Tuesday in an SPSL North boys swimming and diving meet, 114-60.
The Raiders won all but three events during the meet at the King County Aquatic Center. Jefferson got a pair of individual wins from Jordan Gaspay in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.61) and 200 individual medley (2:12.72) and Reid Mayfield in the 50 free (25.19) and 100 free (57.37).
Federal Way got a pair of individual wins from Jason Wert in the 100 butterfly (1:04.70) and 100 backstroke (1:06.05).
