Sumner holds on against 4A SPSL girls basketball rival Emerald Ridge, 3 takeaways

Senior Lainee Houillon paced the No. 3 Spartans with a game-high 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals in road victory

PUYALLUP, Wash. - The third-ranked Sumner girls basketball team needed a defensive effort down the stretch, but the Spartans were up to the task as they remained unbeaten this season with a 51-44 victory Wednesday over host No. 9 Emerald Ridge.

Sumner and the Jaguars lead their respective divisions in the 4A SPSL, and both are expected to win those divisions this winter. Neither had lost a game in league entering the lone regular-season showdown between the two squads.

"Even talking before the game, we were saying how good it was to get to play a game like this," Sumner coach Katie Hyppa said of her pre-game conversation with Emerald Ridge coach Arvin Mosley.

Here are three takeaways from the Sumner-Emerald Ridge game:

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EXPERIENCE GETS IT DONE

The Spartans (13-0 overall, 5-0 SPSL) finally, briefly, pulled in front by double digits with a big third quarter. Led by seniors Lainee Houillon and Adrianna Perez, Sumner led 43-29 with 44 seconds to go in the third quarter.

But Emerald Ridge seniors Aaliyah Chappell wasn’t going to let things get too far out of hand. After another Jaguars senior, Divina Williams, made two free throws with 18 seconds to go, Chappell threw in a 60-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the margin to 43-35.

Emerald Ridge would get as close as 47-44 with 2:24 remaining. But the Spartans got on the glass, made four of six free throws down the stretch - and held on.

“We knew it was going to be like that,” said Houillon, who scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. “It’s always a possession by possession game with them.

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YOUTH MOVEMENT

Even as the seniors for both sides led the way, the newcomers previewed what is to come for both league powers.

For the host Jaguars (7-4, 6-1), Raymiah Jackson was a force inside. The 6-foot ninth grader required extra attention all night as Sumner constantly rotated a second defender in Jackson’s direction. It didn’t matter, though, as Jackson scored easily at the rim early and drew fouls later into the contest, converting field goals and free throws for a team-leading 15 points. She also had seven rebounds and five blocks.

For the visitors, Kawehi Borden also contributed. The 5-10 ninth grader drew the defensive assignment much of the evening against Jackson and tossed in six points of her own to go with eight rebounds.

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NOT WITHOUT A LITTLE FRUSTRATION

Sumner remained unbeaten, but they had to work for it. Houillon, especially, had a night where the ball didn’t seem to want to fall easily.

Per usual, the senior guard got to the rim with seeming ease. But time after time, layups and short pullups rimmed out.

“Anytime she breaks free and gets to the rim and the ball rolls in and out, I think we’re all frustrated,” Hyppa said.

At the same time, the Spartans still got out of the gym with another win.

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