Federal Way’s size, length get the best of Titans

PUYALLUP — Size and length.

That’s what stuck out for Union boys basketball coach Blake Conley when asked about the Federal Way Eagles after his Titans’ 82-62 loss to the undefeated Eagles in Wednesday’s bi-district loss at Puyallup High School.

And there’s a chance the two teams could face off in Vancouver in the 4A regionals, too, if the two teams’ rankings remain in the same position as they were Wednesday. The two teams are currently Nos. 3 (Union) and 6 (Federal Way).

The Titans kept pace in the first half with their outside shooting, trailing Federal Way at halftime, 45-40. For the game, they shot 12 of 27 from 3-point range, led by Zach Reznick’s four 3s and three apiece from Ethan Smith and Tyler Combs.

Combs had a team-best 20 points and Reznick and Smith each had 16. The Titans face Curtis at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High for third place.

Jaden McDaniels, a junior who has multiple DIvision I offers including Oklahoma and Arizona, had 14 of his 24 points in the third quarter for the Eagles.

It was Federal Way’s pressure that got the best of the Titans, particularly in the third quarter, Conley noted. That quarter, Federal Way outscored Union, 25-11, to pull away for good. It was a pressure on Union that the Titans hadn’t seen from another team all season, and that’s something it’s hard to emulate, the coach said.

“You can try to talk about it in practice,” Conley said. “But you have to experience it. It was a great experience for us to have.”

Hopefully, Conley added, they’ll see Federal Way again, “or a team of its caliber” down the road soon.