Isiah Umipig leads Federal Way past Gonzaga Prep / 4A Boys

TACOMA — As he tried to describe the frantic finish, Jerome Collins used a simple saying.

"If you just give of yourself then things will turn," he said. "It will work out for you."

There isn't a player on Federal Way's roster who embodies their coach's philosophy more than Isiah Umipig. He spent much of his senior season distributing in the dark while teammate Cole Dickerson piled up 30-point games.

But on Thursday night, the Eagles' point guard emerged under the bright lights that ring the Tacoma Dome with several season-saving plays. He led the defending champions to a 60-59 victory over third-ranked Gonzaga Prep in overtime of the 4A quarterfinals.

"He took our team on his shoulders and just carried us all the way to the win," Dickerson said.

The Eagles will play Jackson in a semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday.

When Dickerson fouled out with 4 minutes, 10 seconds left in regulation, the other half of Federal Way's dominant duo knew it was up to him to lead his team.

"Our first option is Cole, because he's so diverse with his moves," said Umipig, who finished with 24 points. "When he went out, I knew it was all on my shoulders. I just took it and went."

The Eagles (25-2) endured a 20-1 Gonzaga Prep run. They saw a 12-point, third-quarter lead turn into an eight-point hole.

But this wasn't like last week's loss to Lincoln. In that defeat, Federal Way checked out mentally in the fourth quarter. Against the Bullpups (24-3) it was a physical Gonzaga Prep defense that contributed to cold second-half shooting that disrupted the Eagles offensively.

"We knew it was a state-championship kind of game," said Ryan Nicholas, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Bullpups. "If we won, the next game would be a state-championship game. We viewed every game in this tournament as a state-championship game. We knew they were going to be a great team. We knew it was going to be a great game."

With things slipping away in the final frame, Umipig attacked the heart of Gonzaga Prep's defense. He drove the lane and finished, drawing contact as he fell. He hit all of his free throws.

"What they showed tonight was Eagle basketball," Collins said.

Umipig needed help. First it was Robert Christopher, who slid over and played center when Dickerson fouled out. Then it was Tyrell Lewis, who found a way to stay in the game despite being saddled with four fouls.

Finally, it was Jerry Duckworth, the junior who hit the shot that saved his team's season.

With the Eagles trailing by three in regulation, they called time out. There were 7.1 seconds left and Collins drew up a play that would set up two players behind the three-point line.

One was Umipig. The other was Duckworth. The Bullpups swarmed Umipig and Duckworth was open in the corner. He buried it.

"I knew it was going in," Duckworth said.

Trailing by two in overtime, with less than a minute to play, Umipig drained a three of his own with a hand in his face. Then, trailing by one in the final seconds, he got to the rim for the game-winner.

"I just knew attack, attack," Umipig said. "They're still trying to recover. I caught him on his right hip and I just drove and finished."

When the shot went in, there was still time on the clock and the senior's first thought was to get back on defense.

"We showed we've grown as a team," he said. "We actually fought back and won this time, even without one of our main scorers."

Out of the shadows, the selfless senior delivered.

Wilson 52, Walla Walla 44

Wilson hung on. The Rams' surprise run through the tournament continued with a trip to the semifinals, holding off a late charge by Walla Walla.

"We don't want to be that team that's 0-2 and going to a barbecue," said Wilson's Mikey Hope, who had 12 points and five rebounds. "We want to keep playing. Everyone's doubting us and we're making it happen."

Wilson led by as many as 13 points, but the Blue Devils made it interesting late. Seniors Gary Winston (16 points) and Michael Weisner (18 points and seven rebounds) brought Walla Walla back to tie the game with less than two minutes to play, but the Rams held on.

Demetrius Smith and Jibreel Stevens added 12 points each for Wilson.

Kentwood 78, Eastlake 57

Joshua Smith again made it look so effortless.

Smith, the Conquerors' 6-9, 290-pound center, tossed in 23 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and added two dunks as Kentwood moved into the semifinals for the first time since 2005.

The Conquerors (18-10) won for the 12th time in 14 games and will try to beat tournament surprise Wilson (20-8) at 8:30 Friday night.

Smith, who's headed to UCLA, left the game with 3:06 remaining, shortly after Eastlake fans chanted "USC!" as he shot free throws. Minutes earlier, Smith threw down a thunderous two-handed dunk.

If Smith's inside presence weren't difficult enough for Eastside, Kentwood also had success from long range, sinking seven three-pointers.

"When we've got Josh going on the inside, it makes our outside shooting that much harder to guard," said Tre Tyler, who made three three-pointers and finished with 13 points. "If we miss it, we know he can clean it up for us."

Kentwood built a 38-22 lead in the first half but Eastlake cut the deficit to 10 by halftime.

The Wolves got as close as seven early in the third quarter before the Conquerors went on a 17-1 run.

"They're just a big team," Eastlake guard Dillon Pericin said.

Smith said people haven't seen Kentwood's best basketball yet this season.

"When we're hitting on all cylinders we feel nobody can stick with us," Smith said.

Kentwood shot 54.2 percent from the field and was seven of 17 on three-pointers. Michael Russo scored 21 for the Wolves (18-9).

"They shot amazing," Pericin said.

Eastlake saw its five-game winning streak end.

"Hopefully, this doesn't kill your spirits," Pericin said. "I feel we still can make a run."

Freelancer Ron Newberry contributed to this report.