Stifling Defense, Lacy's 3's Propel Curtis Past Federal Way

Coach Tim Kelly took a second to find just the right words to sum up his basketball team's performance Tuesday night.

On one hand, Curtis High School suffocated visiting Federal Way with a strong half-court defense in a 55-39 victory, and star DaVonte Lacy showed the outside stroke he had honed over the summer.

On the other hand, the Vikings bungled and batted around the ball too many times while trying to maintain its lead throughout the game.

"That's the thing," Kelly said after the final buzzer sounded. "We played very good defense. Anytime you hold a team, especially a team like Federal Way, to 39 points, you had a good night.

"But on offense, we played poorly at times. Some of it's decision-making. We've got to focus."

It was a strange night like that. The Vikings (4-0) scored the first nine points, didn't concede a field goal until only 22 seconds remained in the first quarter and appeared poised to cruise all game.

The Eagles, however, trailed by less than double digits more than midway through the second quarter after the Vikings committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions.

But the every time Federal Way tried to impose its press and make a run, the Vikings made defensive stops and hit key shots, including four 3-pointers from Lacy.

The Washington State University-bound player had shown glimpses of his range throughout his career, but not the way he did Tuesday night. It included back-to-back 3s before halftime.

After the game, Lacy said he had spent countless hours this past summer working on his shot from behind the arc.

"I had a shot when I was young," he said. "I kind of lost it when I became athletic and started dunking and stuff."

No worries. Lacy hasn't lost his high-flying abilities, as evidenced by his ooh-and-aah dunk with less than a minute left in the game.

Forward Julian Vaughn scored 10 points and a tenacity in the paint, while James Cooks added 9 points.

Lacy said, unlike past years, he isn't trying to play a one-man show. Guys like Vaughn and Cooks give him the freedom to allow the game to come to him, and when necessary, become a spot shooter.

"It takes a whole lot of stress off my shoulders," he said. In the locker room, "we have each other's back."