Spartans sneak past North Thurston, 54-52

The Sumner Spartan girls basketball team came out of a three-game week with one win in a nonleague event and two losses in South Puget Sound League 3A action.

The Sumner Spartan girls basketball team came out of a three-game week with one win in a nonleague event and two losses in South Puget Sound League 3A action.

Sumner beat North Thurston 54-52 at home Dec. 9, which was a nonlegaue game.

The Spartans hosted Peninsula Thursday and lost 68-63. Sumner traveled to Enumclaw Friday and fell 47-31.

Sumner was scheduled to travel to Clover Park Tuesday; scores were not available. The Spartans host Auburn Mountainview at 7 p.m. Friday.

Coach Callie Birklid said the team is working hard and making improvements.

“We have to play Sumner basketball to win,” she said.

At Enumclaw, the Spartans trailed early, falling behind 13-5 in the first and 27-14 at the halftime buzzer.

The girls played the Hornets even up in the third with both teams scoring nine, but Enumclaw dropped in 11 in the fourth to Sumner’s eight.

Erika Olsen led the scoring for Sumner with 12 and Kaitlin King hit 10.

Against Peninsula, the Spartans led at the half 31-28. The two teams played even in the third, but Peninsula hit for 25 points in the fourth to Sumner’s 17.

Wagar-Sanchez scored 20, King added 16 and Kendall Thedan hit 10.

The victory over North Thurston was hard fought from the opening bell.

The Spartans outscored North Thurston in the first 13-12 and the teams went into the locker room tied at 24.

Sumner came out and hit 16 in the third to North Thurston’s 14 and the two teams tied with 16 points in the fourth.

Sumner’s victory over North Thurston saw Olsen score 18 and Wagar-Sanchez 13.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.