Originally published Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Boys Basketball | SPSL 4A: Sophomore Jaleel Williams ignites Federal Way

Jaleel Williams, a 6-foot-6 sophomore transfer from Texas, scored a season-high 14 points as fourth-ranked Federal Way beat No. 7 Auburn 79-68 Tuesday night.

By Sandy Ringer

Seattle Times staff reporter

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AUBURN — This was the coming-out party Jaleel Williams was waiting for.

Williams, a 6-foot-6 sophomore transfer from Texas, scored a season-high 14 points — 10 in the second half — as the fourth-ranked Federal Way boys basketball team beat No. 7 Auburn Tuesday night, 79-68, in a South Puget Sound League 4A North Division showdown.

It was the first loss for the Trojans (5-1 overall, 4-1 league) and put Federal Way (3-1, 3-1) back on track after Saturday's loss to Kentridge.

Williams, who scored seven points in the Eagles' first three games, said that loss inspired him.

"I came out with fury," he said. "I didn't want that to happen again."

Neither did Michael Hale, who contributed 15 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds.

"We came here tonight on a mission," Hale said.

Jeff Forbes added 23 points and Cole Dickerson had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for Federal Way.

Auburn's Isaiah Johnson, a 6-6, 270-pound junior, scored 10 of his 20 points in the first quarter as Auburn led 19-17. But the Eagles adjusted and shut him out in the second quarter while taking a 34-33 lead. Two minutes into the third period, Federal Way turned up the heat defensively, forcing seven turnovers to ignite a 20-4 run.

"We talked about limiting their runs, but they got that one in the third quarter, and I really believe that's what the game came down to," Auburn coach Ryan Hansen said.

Williams had two big dunks in the third quarter, one off a feed from Hale, and Forbes dropped in one of his four three-pointers.

Auburn, which reached the Class 3A state tournament the past two seasons, got 13 points from Jeff Gouveia and 12 each from Payne and Carlo Lavoie. Johnson just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

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