Jalen Taylor 20 points propelled Sumner Academy to a 63-45 victory over Liberal on Thursday.
Putting up a 28-25 lead at the half, Sumner outscored Liberal 17-7 in the 3rd quarter.
With 18 points in the fourth quarter, the Sabres locked in their lead. Taylor was the front runner for Sumner Academy’s offense scoring 11 points in the 2nd half while grabbing six rebounds.
Shaun Rainey racked up 15 points and Saadique Perkins added 9. Also contributing for Sumner Academy were Derek Sykes (8 points, 4 rebound), DiCarlo Jackson Jr. (4 points), Marvin Ellis (3 points), Virdal Nash (2 points, 2 rebounds) and Vance Jackson III (2 points). Rainey was a big defensive contributor as well, racking up six rebounds.
Sumner Academy finished the game with 26 rebounds (11 offensive/15 defensive).
Sumner will face Blue Valley SW tonight at 8:15 p.m. in the championship game of the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament.
Sumner Academy 14 14 17 18 63
Liberal 07 16 07 13 45
Top Performers:
SA-Jalen Taylor 20
LHS-Hayden Cocker 12
Sumner Academy: Ellis 3, V.Jackson 2, Taylor 20, Rainey 15, Nash 2, Sanders 0, Perkins 9, Marshall 0, Sykes 8, D.Jackson 4; 26 10-13 63
Liberal: Willshire 8, Baird 0, Fitzgerald 4, Shellenberger 3, Eatmon 11, Hinkle 2, Coleman 3, Green 2, Cocker 12; 13 6-10 45
3 point goals: Ellis; Eatmon 3, Shellenberger, Coleman.
– from Moses Wyatt Jr., Sumner Academy coach