Decatur Gators boys basketball is alive and well after they swallowed up neighboring host Todd Beamer, 76-41, Friday.

It wasn't that close.

After a rip-roaring start that had the Gators snap up a 21-3 lead as the first quarter ended, things merely changed in the second quarter to the Gators outscored the Titans, 26-13, doubling their second quarter point total and therefore leading, 47-16, at the half.

The Gators crowd was in this one from the get-go, early on shouting a chorus of sounds like, "Fundamentals (Clap, clap), Fundamentals"and "You got swatted. You got swatted."

More like "eaten," to put it in unfriendlier but more realistic mascot terms. The Gators ate the Titans whole.

By the middle of the third quarter, it was 52-16, and Gators coach Kevin Olson, a minute later, was filling in his subs and out his starters to try and stop the bleeding of the foe as they already crushed inside a nasty set of teeth. So to speak.

Gators point guard Michael Hale was the scoring star in this game and he dished out a few assists too, and he was just all over the place. He scored 26 points and just flew like a hummingbird, defending, shooting and scoring.

"God, all praise to God," said Hale. "And other than Him, my family. My father has been a big influence. I always have my big cousins beating up on me, playing with me. That's helped me get stronger."

Hale also attributed his getting better this year from last from playing with fellow guard and big-time player Marcus Tibbs.

And his coach, Olson, figures into the mix too, Hale said.

"Coach Olson is wonderful," said Hale. "He plays to win, but he always wants to get people in the game."

And the Gators were plenty good with their people last year, when they made it all the way past the league tournament, past the district tourney, to the state playoffs. Then they did what a lot of teams don't do there. They won a game, beating Snohomish before losing their next two, to Pasco and Prairie. They lost three people, as in seniors from last year's team but the nucleus core of Tibbs, Darius Walker and Hale is back for another run at a state title.

So the Gators were good last year and may very well be better this year.

"We have the potential to go back to state," said Hale.

Why? How?

With Hale. With his attitude and willingness to be unselfish.

"I've always been a pass first point guard," said Hale, when told his court passing prowess looks a lot like a Gator coming up for the kill.

"I want to get someone else involved first. I just love getting other people involved."

Just love. That's what he's got at games, as he's said. Cousins were there bear-hugging him afterward and his mom, Lichelle Hale, had his little siblings. The whole gang.

Show you the love? Right there!

So it was not like the Titans coach, Connie Richardson, didn't know what kind of lousy love the visitors would potentially be showing them in this crosstown game of two opposing divisions, the South Puget Sound League North versus the South.

"Their guards are really good, Marcus and Michael," said Richardson. "Those two are unbelievable. And Decatur is ranked No.5 in the state now in the rankings (Seattle Times 4A poll)."

The guard play of the Titans is pretty good too, if one mentions their super sophomore, Dakin Wanquist. Richardson knows that too and so does Hale.

"Dakin Wanquist is a great guard," said Hale.

And with that said, that is what the Gators did was stopped the Titans right there, with that strategy. They suffocated the sophomore Titan passer.

"Beamer is a good team," said Hale. "When you play a good team, you have to play well. You have to stop their guard play."

Hale noted what he felt was a big reason why this game was not so close, and against a Titans team that made it to the district playoffs last season and returns nine seniors, seven of which see a lot of playing time in the rotation.

"Intensity," said Hale. "Intensity was a big difference."

Hale had plenty of that in his game, getting at least his average of two steals a game.

Hale had 22 points by halftime, 10 in the first quarter and he upped that to a dozen in the second.

He certainly can score, and defend, and pass, and Richardson knew the no-brainer question of player-of-the-game.

"Michael Hale," said Richardson. "He did what he wanted to do. When he had the lane, he made the lay up. When he had a guy in his face, he made a nice pass."

He made the biggest difference in this game that was not close at all. The final score would have been double the Titans' total for the Gators but a three-point shot from Napa Mefi made it less than that.

All said, the Gators will be good this year no doubt and the Titans have a lot of players back, good players. Winton can hit three-pointers, Wanquist can lead on the floor well and Evan Cook can be a senior leader with tough play inside.

"It was not our night," said Richardson.

"It was our first game of the year, we are in good shape,' said Richardson.

And this early game is gone, done with. Good to have this one early than later.

"It is," said Richardson. "Get it first, get it out of the way."

And how does one not have this kind of a collision of a Gator running into a Titan full bore?

We have to play with a high energy every night," said Richardson.

But the story was all about the Gators who were led by their big three. Hale's led with 22 as Tibbs hit 15 and Walker 11.

"Hale is going to be a great player, Tibbs is unbelievable, Walker is a great piece to have," said Richcardson. "And Kevin Olson does a great job with that team."