January 26, 2012 @ 10:37 pm

Curtis gets key league win to keep pace in SPSL 4A

Behind another gritty performance from senior forward Darius Johnson-Wilson and solid outside shooting from sophomore guard Rodrick Smith, Curtis picked up a key 54-48 win over Federal Way tonight to keep pace in the SPSL 4A South race.

Johnson-Wilson scored 22 points – including nine in a pivotal two-minute stretch late in the third quarter – and hauled in eight rebounds, while Smith hit three three-pointers and tallied 16 points for the Vikings.

Johnson-Wilson’s put-back late in the first gave Curtis a temporary 9-8 lead with a minute remaining, but Malik Montoya’s three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining in the quarter put Federal Way up 11-10 heading into the second.

Smith’s first three-pointer regained the lead for the Vikings at 19-18 with just under three minutes to go in the second quarter, and Curtis headed into the half with a 22-20 lead. Smith then helped the Vikings charge out of the gates in the third quarter, hitting two more threes for a 30-22 lead. The Eagles clawed back to within 30-29 on two free throws by D’Londo Tucker, but Johnson-Wilson then took over, hitting four shots in just over two minutes to put the Vikings back on top 42-33 at the end of the third.

Federal Way kept pace thanks to forward Brayon Blake, whose several steals led to easy baskets in the fourth. Blake – who finished with a team-high 17 points and nine rebounds – got the Eagles back to within 49-43 with just over two minutes to play with a steal and layup, but Johnson-Wilson answered with a basket and Dominic Robinson and Cameron Howell later came up with key steals to help seal the win.

Jaurence Chisholm was also a presence inside for the Vikings, scoring four points and adding eight rebounds, while Deonte Anderson had 12 points for Federal Way. The win puts Curtis at 9-3 in league play, just a half-game behind Federal Way and Todd Beamer, which each sit at 9-2. The Vikings next host Emerald Ridge on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.