Girls basketball: Borden dominates first half, Sumner defense smothers Rogers
Kawehi Borden and Olivia Collins are treasuring every last moment as teammates at Sumner High, and the wins have followed.
It’s their final season anchoring the Spartans backcourt together, given the reigning TNT All-Area Player of the Year Collins graduates this spring. Borden, a junior four-star recruit, has another year in ‘The Valley’ before attending her Power-4 school of choice — but there’s plenty of unfinished business to handle first.
“It’s crazy to believe that Liv’s a senior already,” Sumner head coach Katie Hyppa said. “Both of them are special kids, special players. They’re fun to coach. They’re fun to watch for spectators in the crowd. They play off of each other really, really well.”
Borden and Collins average a combined 30 points per game for the clear-cut 4A SPSL favorites, the area’s best one-two punch for what’s considered the South Sound’s best team. Those in attendance for Wednesday night’s 56-30 home win over the Rogers Rams saw more of the same: The star duo totaled 28 points in three quarters before resting in the fourth. Borden had 14 points in the first period by herself.
“Since this is our last year (together)... we’re trying to go all-out for this year,” Collins, a Portland State commit, told The News Tribune.
Borden agreed before adding: “Maturing over the years… I think that’s helped our chemistry a lot. Just more time playing with each other. We’ve learned so much more, just where we like to get our shots.”
That much only tells half of Wednesday night’s story. Sumner’s (15-2) defense set an early tone and built an 18-point lead in the first quarter, swarming and smothering the second-place Rams (11-6) from the opening tip. Seemingly every Rogers shot was contested, every pass dangerous.
With a defensive masterclass like that? Wednesday night’s romp was over soon after it started.
“Something we preach: We should never have an off-night defensively,” Hyppa said. “You could go 0-for-60, you could miss every shot. But if you’re defensively setting the tone and dictating the pace, that’s something we don’t ever want to give up.”
Even more promising? They did it without junior forward Raymiah Jackson, an Emerald Ridge transfer and the team’s prominent interior presence ruled out for Wednesday night’s 4A SPSL North rivalry. Reinforcements are on their way come playoff time for the five-time defending league champs.
“We had to come in with energy,” Borden said, “because that’s a big factor (Raymiah) brings to our team.
“That was a big emphasis for us going into this game, and we did really well executing that. I’m proud of our team in that aspect.”
Sumner’s victory over the Rams marks their ninth in 10 games. It’s a resounding response to Monday’s loss to Bellevue, the program’s first defeat since Dec. 27 (St. Mary’s, Calif.).
Borden dropped 14 of her game-high 19 points in the first quarter, catching fire from downtown with three triples. The last was heat check-esque, a deep three well beyond the arc that felt like an early dagger, if such a thing exists. Sumner’s public address announcer said it best: “She hit that one from King County!”
The 6-foot-1 guard holds offers from the likes of Washington, Oregon, Kansas, BYU, and others. It was easy to see why Wednesday night, a three-level scorer dangerous on both ends.
“The composure she played with… no matter how good defensively you are, that composure and execution is tough to beat, really,” Hyppa said. “She obviously shot the ball well… but I think she did a really good job just commanding the offense and really taking that next step leadership-wise.”
Collins totaled nine points, all in the first half. Sumner’s Madison Hughes added nine points (3 3PM) and Molly Neely had five.
Rogers post Kiara Lamusitele paced the Rams with 10 points. Junior guard Rowan Deforrest had six.
Sumner, the defending 4A state runner-up, won’t be satisfied without another chance to hoist the championship trophy. League and district playoffs are up first, where it’s hard to imagine the Spartans as anything but the favorites.
BOX SCORE
R: 6-5-10-9—30
S: 24-12-11-9—56
Scoring: (S) Borden 19, Collins 9, Hughes 9; (R) Lamusitele 10, Deforrest 6
