On a chilly winter break evening, the Bonney Lake Panthers gave their home fans plenty to cheer about, dispatching the Thomas Jefferson Raiders 60-52 in a non-league clash that showcased both teams' grit and determination. With sophomore sensation Izzy Meki lighting up the scoreboard for the second consecutive game, the Panthers stayed atop the 4A SPSL standings and improved their overall record to 8-2.
Coming off a career-high 31 points against Kentwood, Meki wasted no time finding her rhythm again. She drained seven threes on the night—just one shy of the school record—and finished with 29 points, five assists, and an energy that electrified the gym.
The Panthers came out firing in the first quarter, opening with a deep three from sophomore forward Azy Jackson that set the tone for a dominant start. Jackson was a force on both ends, tallying 11 points, nine rebounds, nine blocks, five assists, and three steals in a near triple-double performance. Forward Natalie Patton added seven of her 12 points in the opening frame, helping Bonney Lake jump to a commanding 21-7 lead.
Defensively, the Panthers smothered the Raiders, with Jackson turning the paint into a no-fly zone and the perimeter defense forcing tough shots.
The second quarter saw more of the same. Meki opened with another three, and while the Raiders turned up their defensive aggression, they couldn’t cool her hand. Even with Jackson and Meki in foul trouble, the Panthers kept rolling, stretching their lead to 39-19 by halftime.
After the break, Thomas Jefferson showed signs of life. The Raiders cranked up their intensity, but Meki responded with three more threes in the third quarter, thrilling the crowd as she inched closer to Ava Bailey’s school record. Despite foul trouble across the roster, Bonney Lake maintained a 54-31 lead heading into the fourth.
When Jackson fouled out early in the final quarter, the Raiders capitalized. Their inside game started clicking, and they cut into the Panthers’ lead with a late surge. But with time ticking down and the Panthers hitting key free throws, the comeback fell short.
The final buzzer sounded with Bonney Lake holding on for a 60-52 win, a testament to their defensive tenacity and Meki’s offensive brilliance.
Stat Leaders:
Izzy Meki: 29 points, 5 assists
Azy Jackson: 11 points, 9 blocks, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
Natalie Patton: 12 points
Salem Baker-Stanhope: 4 points
Keira Lonn: 2 points
Bella Fulton: 2 points
Bonney Lake now turns its attention to a January 3rd league matchup against the Rogers Rams in Puyallup, where they’ll look to keep their momentum alive as they chase an SPSL title.
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