SPSL Roundup: Auburn Riverside not satisfied with victory

KENT — Auburn Riverside's girls are finding out that to be a dominant basketball program they will have to walk a tightrope between excellence and sloppiness.

On paper, their 76-56 victory on the road against Kentridge Tuesday night made the fifth-ranked Ravens look every bit the favorite to challenge for the South Puget Sound League North Division title and a return trip to the state tournament. But when the postgame lecture reaches 30 minutes, there are signs that coach Adam Barrett has concerns about his team's ability to close out opponents.

The Ravens (6-0 overall and league) led 10-0 after just three minutes and 28-8 after one quarter. The lead grew to 26 by halftime and it appeared that the top-scoring team in Class 4A was on its way to 100 points.

Auburn Riverside led by as many as 31 in the fourth quarter before the Chargers — who never showed signs of giving up — closed the game on a 13-2 run. Riverside committed 20 turnovers, with 12 in the second half.

Ravens senior guard Julie Futch led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Futch, the league's leading scorer, dished out eight assists and pulled down four rebounds. Junior post Stephanie Wilber turned in her sixth double-double in as many games with 15 points and 15 rebounds to go with two blocks. Nneka Payne added 15 points — 13 in the first quarter. Auburn Riverside, averaging 76.2 points, knocked down nine of 21 three-point shots.

Maddie Boushey had 12 points and three rebounds for the Chargers (3-3, 3-3).

Other games

At Auburn Mountainview 40, Auburn 36

The Lions, who lost to Auburn by 15 points last week, beat the Trojans for the first time as sophomore post Kendall Poppe got 10 of her team-high 12 points in a pivotal third quarter. Mountainview (4-3, 3-3 SPSL North) outscored Auburn 18-6 in the third. Kaili Galati led the Trojans (3-5, 1-5) with 14 points.

Kentwood 65, at Tahoma 30

At Enumclaw 75, Sumner 43

The Hornets went on a 29-0 run during the second and third quarters after trailing 18-17 after one. Randi Francis hit three three-pointers and scored 24 points, Lindsey Clyde had 20 points and 11 assists and Erin Rockwood scored 19 for Enumclaw (5-2, 4-2) in the SPSL North game. Amber Choate led Sumner (0-6, 0-6) with 20 points.

At Kentlake 72, Kent-Meridian 27

Andrea Holzberger got eight of her 20 points during a 23-4 second-quarter blitz by the Falcons (4-2, 4-2) in the SPSL North. Shelley Sievers added 13 points, seven rebounds and a block for Kentlake, which held high-scoring Na'Keta Preston of the Royals (1-6, 1-5) to five points.

At Bethel 46, Beamer 36

Erica Baumes, who needed stitches after taking an elbow to her eye, hit three three-pointers and scored 11 points to help the Braves (5-1, 5-1) beat the Titans (3-3, 3-3) in the SPSL South game. Baumes missed much of the second and third quarters. Kayla Martindale had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Bethel, and Whitney Nelson scored seven third-quarter points in Baumes' absence.

Graham-Kapowsin 50, Curtis 38

The Eagles (5-2, 5-2) jumped ahead 28-13 at halftime and got double-figure scoring from three players in an SPSL South win. Lindsay Flowers scored 17 points, Jen Cogburn had 14 and Katie Cross 13 for G-K. Brittany Weaver led Curtis (1-5, 1-5) with 13.

At Puyallup 60, Federal Way 42

Puyallup held Federal Way's top scorer, Salena Dickerson to just five points in the first half while building a 34-14 lead in the South Division game. Dickerson finished with 17 for the Eagles (3-3, 3-3). Danika Lawson collected 24 points, 12 rebounds, six steals and four assists for the unbeaten Vikings (7-0, 7-0).

At Emerald Ridge 51, Decatur 23

Lakia Arceneaux got 10 of her 20 points to lead the Jaguars (3-3, 3-3) to a 16-4 first-quarter lead in the South Division victory over the Gators (0-7, 0-7).

At Rogers 47, Jefferson 34

Nicole DeRosier went 7 of 9 at the free-throw line during the fourth quarter as the Rams (4-2, 4-2), who had trailed by two, outscored Jefferson (2-5, 2-5) in the final period, 21-6. DeRosier, a junior guard/forward, finished with 21 points and nine rebounds and was 9 of 11 overall at the foul line.