TACOMA--Hard play to the core characterized Thursday's state boys Class 4A quarterfinal basketball collision between Federal Way and Narrows League champion powerhouse Lincoln of Tacoma.

Lincoln's sudden attacks and bumps at first threw off the Eagles, but they put themselves back together and won, 52-45.

"They play you hard nosed and because of the physical play it disturbed us in our shooting," said Federal Way head coach Jerome Collins. "I told the kids to keep their heads up. I thought the defense was the difference."

The Abes still stood within striking distance of the Eagles as late as 32 seconds to play in the fourth quarter in the action at the Tacoma Dome.

Jemini Davis closed the gap to 46-45 at that time and his team was threatening for more, but it was all Federal Way from there in a 6-0 run.

Isiah Umipig of the Eagles iced a pair of free throws with 25 seconds to go that made it 48-45, then Andre Barrington stole the ball away from the Abes and scored with 16 seconds left - making it a 50-45 game.

The Eagles snatched the ball back and Jeff Forbes drew a foul and made both one-and-one shots with 7.4 seconds remaining.

Lincoln then tried a long shot and missed, with Aaron Broussard hauling down the final rebound.

Broussard finished with a team-high 15 points and hauled down an impressive 12 rebounds. Forbes was next with 11 points and Cole Dickerson - the half brother of Federal Way, University of Arizona and NBA player Michael Dickerson - was next with eight with Umipig scoring seven, Montrel Walton six and Barrington five.

Dickerson had eight rebounds to back up Broussard.

"I think our kids go hard and do great overall," Collins said. "It's tough. It really is. You go in night in and night out."

It took until the end for the Federal Way faithful to find relief in last Wednesday's tournament opener against Franklin of Seattle.

The lead went from one side to the other before the Eagles prevailed, 63-58.

A 9-for-9 team free throw shooting binge down the stretch paved the way.

"We've been a real good free throw shooting team," Collins said. "When it came down to the wire, we were on top of it."

Broussard scored 14 if his 25 points in the fourth quarter. He also made two free throws that gave the Eagles a 61-58 lead with 21.9 seconds left.

"Broussard is our captain, and a real big example," Collins said. "He's tough."

Peyton Silva of Franklin then missed at the other end of the court, and the Eagles' Forbes finished off the win at 63-58 with 12.1 seconds left by icing two one-and-one shots.

"It's just like stepping stones," said Collins of the journey toward the state championship. "It gets harder as you go."

Forbes scored 17 points to back up Broussard in that department. Barrington hit seven, Robert Christopher five, Dickerson four, Umipig three and Walton two.