If you weren’t in the Bonney Lake gym Wednesday night, you missed a show. The Panthers boys basketball team electrified an enthusiastic home crowd in their 4A league debut, delivering a thrilling performance in their home opener, dominating the Yelm Tornados 82-53.
Both teams entered the night hungry for a win—Bonney Lake (0-1) rebounding from a narrow season-opening loss to Mount Tahoma and Yelm (1-1) seeking to recover after falling to Black Hills. But from the opening tip, it was clear this was the Panthers’ night.
Drenched in a sea of white, the Panthers faithful packed the stands, and the energy in the gym was palpable. Bonney Lake senior Cooper Hartley set the tone early, pouring in 10 of his game-high 23 points in a frenetic first quarter that saw the teams trading buckets like heavyweight fighters trading haymakers. Hartley’s quick trigger and slick ball movement with senior guard Jamian Lewis were a sight to behold. At the quarter buzzer, the Panthers clung to a 20-18 lead.
The second quarter belonged to Bonney Lake’s defense. Anchored by Eli Davis, who dominated the boards and disrupted the Tornados’ rhythm, the Panthers locked down Yelm, holding them to just three points in the frame. As the half wound down, sophomore Cole Seminara provided the exclamation point, tipping in a missed shot at the buzzer to send the Panthers into the locker room up 30-21.
The second half? Pure fireworks.
Hartley opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, answered by a Yelm triple. Then Isaiah Chavez drained one from deep. Yelm punched back. But midway through the third, the Panthers broke the game wide open. Fueled by their suffocating defense, Bonney Lake unleashed a 14-0 run punctuated by a fast-break slam from Lewis that brought the house down. The gym erupted into pandemonium as Lewis soared through the air, capping a sequence of steals, transition buckets, and hustle plays that left the Tornados gasping for answers.
By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers had blown the game open, leading 60-32. The fourth quarter was a formality as Bonney Lake’s defense continued to stymie Yelm, and the offense cruised to the finish line. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 82-53, and the Panthers celebrated their first win of the season in style.
Four Panthers scored in double digits, with Hartley leading the way at 23 points. Lewis added 19, while Davis chipped in 13 and Seminara contributed 12. Chaves rounded out the scoring with five.
The Panthers will look to build on their momentum Friday as they travel to Olympia, but fans should circle their next home game on the calendar: Thursday, Dec. 12, against Spanaway Lake. If Tuesday night was any indication, this season is shaping up to be a thrilling ride.
Top Scorers:
Cooper Hartley: 23 points
Jamian Lewis: 19 points
Eli Davis: 13 points
Cole Seminara: 12 points
Isaiah Chavez: 5 points
This commanding performance also marked the head coaching debut of Dave Alwert, who has quickly made his mark on the Panthers' program. With a focus on tenacious defense and up-tempo offense, Alwert’s vision was on full display. It’s early, but Panthers fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the future under their new leader.
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