SPSL Tournament: Tubbs, Tahoma handle Puyallup

PUYALLUP — Riley Tubbs has something of a reputation as a defensive specialist for the Tahoma boys basketball team.

In Friday's South Puget Sound League tournament showdown against host Puyallup, he diversified his game.

Tubbs, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, scored a career-high 18 points and spearheaded a stifling defensive effort as the Bears defeated the Vikings 47-30.

Both teams advance to first-round games in the West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Tahoma (16-5) won its seventh straight and claimed the SPSL's No. 5 seed to districts. The Bears will travel to face the winner of today's Narrows League tournament game between Foss and Central Kitsap.

Puyallup (17-6) gets the sixth seed and travels to play the loser of today's Mount Tahoma-South Kitsap game.

Tahoma avenged a season-ending loss to the Vikings a year ago, and did it by shutting down a Puyallup offense that was averaging 57.4 points.

The Bears forced 23 turnovers and held Puyallup to 29-percent shooting. Senior center Alex Hess came off the bench for eight points and five blocked shots, and Tubbs had four of Tahoma's 13 steals.

The Bears turned transition opportunities into scores at the other end, and shot 50 percent (21 for 42). Tubbs had 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, most on fast-break layups, as Tahoma pulled away.

Tubbs was also instrumental in containing Puyallup senior Austin Kilpatrick, who came in averaging 19.3 points. Kilpatrick was saddled with early foul trouble and managed just five points.

"I just tried to get in his head a little bit, take some charges and just play hard defense," Tubbs said. "They came out and got us pretty well [last year]. We really wanted this one."

Senior forward Caleb Barsh had 10 points to lead the Vikings.

Girls game

Enumclaw 55, Bethel 43 (5th, 6th)

At Puyallup High, senior Lindsey Clyde had 15 points and the surging Hornets (16-5) parlayed a 12-0, third-quarter run into victory in the SPSL tournament game.

Both teams qualified for the West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament, and both will travel for first-round games Thursday.

Enumclaw won its seventh in a row to earn the SPSL's No. 5 seed, and will play at the No. 3 seed from the Narrows league, the winner of today's Mount Tahoma-Central Kitsap game.

Bethel (15-6) is the No. 6 seed and will play at the Narrows No. 2, the loser of today's contest between Gig Harbor and second-ranked Lincoln of Tacoma.