In their final game of the season, the Sumner High girls fought for every rebound and loose ball against the playoff-bound Bonney Lake Panthers.
But cold-shooting early in the second half and the Panthers’ full-court defense prevented the Spartans from ending the season on a high note. Sumner fell to the Panthers, 59-42 in South Puget Sound League 3A play Feb. 13 at home.
The Spartans built a 14-10 lead early and increased their margin to six, 18-12, midway in the second period. But the Panthers put together a 14-3 run – highlighted by Marcel Pounds’ 3-pointer with 55 seconds left in the half – for a 22-21 advantage.
Bonney Lake scored two more baskets off Spartan mistakes in the final 30 seconds for a 26-21 halftime lead.
Sumner watched as the Panthers put together a 12-0 run in the third and the Spartans couldn’t recover. For most of the second half, Sumner had trouble again the Panthers’ full-court pressure defense which resulted in several turnovers. Sumner’s first score in the second half came with 2:20 left in the third.
The Spartans cut the Panther margin by 10, but Bonney Lake answered with a 10-3 run.
Sumner was led by Angie Wagar-Sanchez with 18 points and Lisa Schouten added 12. It was the final game for Schouten, the lone senior on the Sumner squad.
Sumner closed out the season with a 5-15 mark, 3-13 in the SPSL 3A standings.
On Feb. 10, the state-ranked White River Hornets rolled over the Spartans, 66-12, in Buckley.
White River jumped out to a huge first-period lead, 25-2, and the Spartans were never able to overcome the huge margin.
Schouten led Sumner with four points.
Reach Dannie Oliveaux at doliveaux@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.