Sumner stifles Auburn in 61-57 win to clinch spot in state: 3 takeaways
The Auburn High School (21-4) boys basketball team has been one of the South Sound’s best squads this year, led by a talented core of underclassmen that should have the Trojans in contention for state tournament appearances this year and in the next couple seasons, as well. But Ryan Hansen’s squad, ranked No. 8 in the WIAA’s RPI, probably hadn’t seen a defense quite like Sumner’s to this point.
In Friday night’s Class 4A West Central III district game, Auburn had few answers offensively, with Sumner coming away with a 61-57 upset win. Here’s what we learned from the Spartans’ victory, which clinched Sumner’s first appearance in the state tournament regional round since 2014.
SUMNER’S ZONE STIFLES AUBURN
Auburn made some sporadic runs throughout the contest, but couldn’t consistently find ways to attack Sumner’s 1-2-2 zone, which was as effective as it’s been all season on Friday night.
“Everybody doing their role, everybody buying in, getting low,” said Sumner guard Josh Lear. “We were active. We always harp on staying low, head on a swivel and just fire up.”
Sumner coach Jake Jackson said he liked the players’ movement in the zone against Auburn.
“Being active,” Jackson said. “We have to know where (Trevon Blassingame) is at, where (Dae’Kwon Watson) is at. We have to know where their guys are. I thought tonight we did a great job, head on a swivel, communicating, directive talk. Our guys just flew around. They wanted it more.”
THE SPARTANS PLAYED TOUGHER THAN THE TROJANS
Even in today’s analytics-crazed sports culture, there’s something to be said for old-fashioned desire. Much of Friday night, Sumner looked like the tougher team.
“We just wanted it more, that’s it,” Lear said. “They didn’t want it as bad as we wanted it. That’s why we won.”
Jackson said he felt like the Spartans were equipped well against Auburn.
“We’re a taller, more physical team,” Jackson said. “We wanted to be aggressive but also confident and loose. So I told them, ‘The harder you play, the less you’re going to be thinking.’ It showed. They just played.”
JOSH LEAR WAS IN THE ZONE
The Sumner senior guard finished with a team-high 24 points — 15 of which came in the second half — and nailed five 3-pointers.
“I missed my first couple and then I was like, ‘I’ll just make them,’” Lear said. “I just keep shooting. If I’m open, I let it fly.”
Jackson recognizes that killer instinct from Lear when he sees it.
“He was locked in,” Jackson said. “He’s one of our guys that’s telling guys where to be, what their job is. When you see that laser-focus in his eyes, you just know it’s going to be a good night. … He’s like a quattro-threat. He can drive, he can shoot midrange, can shoot threes and make free-throws. So he’s just hard to guard. I’m just proud of Lear.”
Champ Spencer also had a strong game for Sumner, scoring 18 points. For Auburn, Amar Rivers scored a game-high 24 points. Maleek Arington scored 13 and Kaden Hansen chipped in 10.
Sumner will face No. 1 ranked Union on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. at Mount Tahoma High School for state seeding and the possibility of playing the winner of Kentwood and Battle Ground in the district championship game.
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 12:26 AM.
