Didn't believe No. 5 Sumner was a legitimate Class 4A contender? Believe it now - the Spartans handle third-ranked Camas, 68-54

UNIVERSITY PLACE - You better believe it.

As other Class 4A state-contending hopefuls have been talked about frequently this winterIf y, fifth-ranked Sumner has quietly went about its business in the 4A SPSL.

On Wednesday, the Spartans broke out - very loudly.

Led by Alyson Deaver's game-high 29 points, Sumner swamped No. 3 Camas, 68-54, in the semifinals of the West Central/Southwest District championships at Curtis High School.

It was be an all-4A SPSL district final, too. The Spartans will play Emerald Ridge, a come-from-behind winner over Bellarmine Prep in the earlier game, on Saturday for the title.

But first, the Spartans faced their biggest test against a team with similar DNA - one that prefers to run and apply a large amount of pressure on both ends.

And after Reagan Jamison's inside bucket gave the 4A GSHL champions their biggest lead - 26-18 - with 3:25 to go in the first half, the game had the feeling it was headed for a one-sided affair.

That is when Deaver, the 6-foot-1 forward and two-time league player of the year, flipped the script.

She scored 10 of her team's next 12 points, triggering a half-ending 16-1 run by Sumner, and the Spartans never trailed again.

"We had heard they were a really good team, and played like us," said Deaver, who scored 21 of her 29 points in the first half. "We were ready for that level of intensity."

Camas cut it to 42-41 late in the third quarter, but again, the Spartans closed the quarter strong, scoring seven unanswered points - capped by Deaver's scoop shot bucket with 19 seconds to go.

And when Kylie Griffin scored all 11 of her points for Sumner in the first 3:32 of the final quarter, including three 3-pointers, the Papermakers were never heard from again.

Camas coach Scott Thompson praised Sumner's ability to maintain its pressure, especially Alyson and Catelyn Deaver.

"The way those sisters move, and the way they get up and down the court for 32 minutes - that was really impressive," Thompson said.

Lainee Houillon added 12 points for Sumner. Addison Harris led Camas with her team-high 15 points. The Papermakers committed a season-high 30 turnovers.

"I was proud of our kids for coming back," first-year Sumner coach Katie Hyppa said. "They didn't back down. They didn't sit down. They were poised."