Sports
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2014
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TACOMAWEEKLY.com
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LINCOLN CRUISES OVER FEDERAL WAY
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SECTION A, PAGE 6
TOP UPCOMING MATCHUPS BOYS BASKETBALL
Jan. 8 – Wilson @ Lincoln – 7 p.m. Rams and Abes are athletic and make defensive plays.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jan. 8 – Lincoln @ Wilson – 7 p.m. Should be premier matchup in Narrows 3A girls race.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Jan. 10 – Gig Harbor @ Stadium – 7 p.m. Tigers look to stay on top early in Narrows 4A.
BOYS SWIMMING
Jan. 11 – All-City Meet – 9 a.m. – Foss Stadium, Wilson, Foss, Lincoln, Mount Tahoma compete.
WILSON WINS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Foss rebounds from first loss
PHOTO BY ROCKY ROSS
SHARPSHOOTER. Wilson’s Jamal Welch (23), pictured earlier this year against Mount Tahoma, scored 15 points and tallied eight rebounds in the Rams’ opener at the Franklin Tournament of Champions. By Jeremy Helling jeremy@tacomaweekly.com
PHOTOS BY ROCKY ROSS
STRONG OFFENSE. (Top) Lincoln guard Joy Failauga (right) races toward the hoop in the dominant win
over Federal Way. (Left) The Abes’ Tamia Braggs, who had a team-high 20 points, is fouled as she takes a shot. (Right) Junior guard Aaqila Turner puts up a one-handed shot.
By Derek Shuck derek@tacomaweekly.com
T
he Lincoln girls basketball team continued their perfect season on Dec. 27, rolling past the Federal Way Eagles in a 51-32 victory. Sophomore Tamia Braggs led the Abes (7-0, 1-0 3A Narrows) with 20 points, while junior Kiara Thomas contributed 13 points and 10 steals. The Abes’ defensive work definitely showed in the first quarter as they outscored Federal Way (2-3, 2-2 SPSL) 14-4. The quarter included a sevenpoint run for the Abes, in which they were able to shut the Eagles down for a little under six minutes. “From day one, we were like, ‘We have to defend, and we have to defend
as a unit,’” head coach Jamila Jones said of the team’s ability to lock Federal Way down. Federal Way was able to keep pace with Lincoln in the second quarter, but couldn’t make up the point difference, giving the Abes a 26-15 lead going into the half. Lincoln was able to keep Federal Way silent in the third until back-toback baskets from Amani Dunn gave the struggling Eagles some momentum. “As long as we play hard, we’ll be in any game,” Jones said of the Abes’ ability to battle through tough turnovers. With this mentality in mind, the Abes were able to hold the lead going into the fourth, leading the Eagles 35-26. The Abes defense showed up big in the final quarter, only allowing six more points from the Eagles. Opening
up the quarter with a 10-point run, the Abes made it clear that they were still in control of the game. The run was highlighted by junior Joy Failauga scoring the only three-pointer of the night, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd. The Abes continued their defensive dominance until the end of the game, taking away driving lanes and tightly guarding the key, securing the 51-32 victory. “Defense wins big games,” Jones said. “That’s what we work on every day, sharing the responsibility of playing defense and helping out our teammates.” Federal Way was led by Dunn’s 10 points, while Kayla Smith scored six points for the Eagles. The Abes next host Foss on Jan. 3 as they return to Narrows 3A action.
If Wilson wants to reach their postseason goals this year – and it certainly looks like they’re capable – then they will need to come through in the clutch against tough teams. And they certainly did that at the Franklin Tournament of Champions, winning all three of their games to take the title on Dec. 26-28 at Franklin High School. “It’s a battle,” said Wilson head coach Dave Alwert. “That’s what we want to be, is battle-ready for state. That’s ultimately what we want to do…playing on the big stages against the best of the best. We’ll play anybody this year.” The Rams got off to a good start, using a late run to coast to a 62-44 win over Union in their opener on Dec. 26. Union’s Skillful Davis, Jr. had cut the Rams’ lead to 31-29 with a three-pointer midway through the third quarter, but Wilson responded to outscore the Titans 26-7 over the next eight minutes. The Rams’ Jamal Welch – who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals – capped a 12-0 run with a steal and layup, giving Wilson a commanding 57-36 lead with 3:15 left in the game. “I’m proud of their effort,” Alwert said. “They really worked hard. Defensively, when you throw waves and waves and waves of athletes at people it’s pretty tough.” Welch helped the Rams grab an 18-9 lead heading into the second quarter with nine points in the first period. Sophomore forward Alphonso Anderson also began to dominate in the paint for the Rams, getting Titans’ forwards Isaiah Robinson and Spencer Martin in foul trouble. Anderson finished with 13 points and nine rebounds for the Rams. But Union guard Micah Paulson scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the first half to help the Titans stay within 28-20 at the break. Davis and Derrick Derryberry nailed three-pointers early in the third quarter, and Davis’ three midway through the third created the narrowest deficit since the Titans trailed 8-7 midway through the first quarter. But the Rams responded with a 9-0 run in just over two minutes, as Ivy Smith, Jr. – who finished with a game-high 17 points on 6-for-12 X See BASKETBALL / page A9