1/31/25

Sumner Spartans              10/16/15/19 – 60
Emerald Ridge Jaguars   17/8/14/11 – 50

(South Hill, WA) The race for the SPSL North crown came down to the very last regular season game between the Sumner Spartans and the Emerald Ridge Jaguars. It was a winner-take-all for the division title, as the teams came into the game with identical records both overall and in league play. The winner of the game would not only win the SPSL North, but host the second seed from the SPSL South next week in the SPSL Tournament Semifinals. The loser of the game would travel to Olympia to play the Bears on the road for the SPSL Semis.

It also was senior night for Emerald Ridge, as they honor their two senior managers, and three seniors on the team. The Jaguars seniors are Savannah So, Katelyn Hudgins, and Malea Berridge.

In the first quarter, Sumner jumped out to an 8-3 lead, with the help of Kawehi Borden and Olivia Collins each knocking down a three. Emerald Ridge responded with a 14-2 run to close out the quarter, as Semaj Williams had seven points for the Jaguars to lead them in the quarter. Emerald Ridge had a 17-10 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Sumner’s Olivia Collins and Kawehi Borden continued their excellent scoring for the Spartans, as they both had double figures in the first half and were the only players for Sumner to make a field goal. Sumner also held Emerald Ridge to just eight points in the second quarter, which would be the lowest-scoring output the Jaguars had in a quarter all night. After a back-and-forth, exhilarating first half, Sumner took a 26-25 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, both sides again were trading baskets. Semaj Williams and Raymiah Jackson each had a couple of baskets for Emerald Ridge to give them 11 points in the game. For Sumner, Kawehi Borden hit a pair of threes, while Parker Gould added a couple of baskets for the Spartans. Sumner’s lead went up to seven points late in the quarter, but Emerald Ridge rallied to make it a two-point game at 41-39 going into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, Sumner got a three from Kessa Nohr and a two from Finley Nadeau early in the quarter to get some more scoring depth for the Spartans. Emerald Ridge answered with a three from Naleila Cammack to make it 44-42, but Sumner went on a 7-0 run to make it 51-42. Emerald Ridge would close the gap again, making it a 52-48 game, but Sumner utilized clutch free throw shooting. Olivia Collins made her last seven free throws, going 13-16 from the line in the ballgame, and Kawehi Borden hit some clutch free throws as well, to help Sumner secure the victory and win the SPSL North title, 60-50 over Emerald Ridge.

With the win and division title, Sumner improves to 17-3 on the season and 15-1 in league play. Sumner will host either Bethel or Bonney Lake in the SPSL Semifinals, as Bethel and Bonney Lake are tied in the SPSL South for the two seed.

Emerald Ridge drops to 16-4 on the season and 14-2 in SPSL action, but will still play for the SPSL Tournament title next week. The Jaguars will go to Olympia for the Semifinals.

These two sides could play each other up to three more times this season. Once in the SPSL Tournament next week, which would be in the Championship Game. Then, they could meet again in the District Tournament, and potentially a fifth time on the year in the State Tournament.

Our Thorbeckes Game MVP went to Sumner’s Kawehi Borden. The sophomore didn’t look like a sophomore, leading Sumner in scoring for the majority of the game, Borden finished with 21 points and four threes. Borden was also tremendous on defense, as Emerald Ridge has many players that have the ability to go for 15 points on any given night.

Sumner was also led by Olivia Collins, who had a game-high 23 points, and is worth repeating, made seven straight free throws to close out the game and was 13-16 from the free throw line in the game. Parker Goul had six points, Kessa Nohr had five points, and Madison Hughes had three points.

Emerald Ridge was led by Raymiah Jackson and Semaj Williams who each had 13 points. Jackson was great in the post, getting seemingly every rebound, while Williams helped run the point for the Jaguars. Saniya Fair had eight points, Naleila Cammack had seven points, Savannah So had four points, Kaitlyn Hudgins hit a three, and Malea Berridge had two points.

Click here for the full game replay (Subscription Required).

ESN Talks To Game MVP, Sumner’s Kawehi Borden

Game Highlights

Emerald Ridge’s Savannah So Hits Fourth Quarter Three

Game MVP, Kawehi Borden From Way Downtown

Olivia Collins Uses Fantastic Post Move For The Spartans 

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