As the weather cools, high school sports take their action inside.

For the Sumner girls and boys basketball teams, the 2016-2017 season began last week.

Girls

The Sumner girls team started the season Friday with a 57-55 loss to Puyallup.

Head coach Jordan Moog is entering her third year at Sumner with a 33-18 career record.

Four starters are returning this season, Moog said.

Three top players Moog said to keep an eye on this year are senior guard Joy Mahnken and juniors post Kelsey Bell and guard Kennedy Cutter.

Last season, Mahnken was named first team all South Puget Sound League 3A and Cutter received honorable mention.

When asked what makes these players stand out, Moog said “Joy is a great leader. She is what makes us go on and off the court! Kelsey will bring a great forward presence. Good overall player. Kennedy is our shooter. She spreads out defenses.”

This is the first season the Spartans will be in the new SPSL 4A.

“To be honest, I’m very excited to join a new league but am really not sure how it’s going to play out,” Moog said in an email.

When preparing for the new teams and new league, Moog said the team will “stick to our guns and just adjust a bit to more of a fast paced game.”

She added, she is excited for the team this year. She said Sumner has some new talent with freshman point guard Callie Stevens.

The Spartans traveled to Olympia Tuesday after the press deadline.

Next up for Sumner is a home game at 7 p.m. against South Kitsap.

Boys

Similar to the girls, the Sumner boys basketball team lost by two. The Spartans fell 45-43 to Auburn Riverside Nov. 29 to start the season.

The Spartans are under the supervision of first year head coach Jake Jackson.

Sumner hosted Olympia Tuesday after the press deadline.

Following two away games, the Spartans return home Tuesday, Dec. 13 for a 7 p.m. tip off game against Emerald Ridge.