March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Wyandotte West – March 2, 2009High school basketballSUMNER SWEEPS KCKL IN WINNING TITLESabres seeking state titleby Donovan CorriganSumner Academy closed the regular season by accomplishing three team goals—to go unbeaten in the KansasCity Kansas League. The Sabres secured an 8-0 league record and the championship by hammering Harmon,97-65, on Wednesday night at home.Sumner, No. 1 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 4A rankings, showed some mentaltoughness in rebounding from a tough 69-61 road loss to Class 5A state powerhouse, Bishop Miege, the nightbefore.“I thought it was great the way we bounced back after an emotional loss the night before, especially against agreat team like Harmon,” Sumner coach Dan Parra said. “Our whole team played with a lot of energy. The teammade it a goal to go undefeated in league, and it was important to them to accomplish this goal.”The game was close early on as Sumner held a slim 22-20 advantage after the first quarter. The Sabres surgedahead for good after outscoring Harmon, 31-13, in the second quarter. The spurt enabled Sumner to take a 53-33 halftime lead. The Sabres edged Harmon 45-32 in the second half in salting the game away.“The second quarter was huge,” Parra said. “We went into a zone and we're really aggressive in it. We went on a15-2 run that was the difference in the game.”Junior forward Reese Holliday led the way for Sumner with 18 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Toutedpoint guard Neil Watson finished with 21 points, eight assists and two steals. Guard Davonte Chaney had 21points and seven rebounds, while freshman guard Benny Parker contributed 17 points and five assists. ForwardBlake Franklin added 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench after sophomore Eli Alexander was injured.The game against Miege was a battle of two top teams in the area, and two of the best point guards in thestate. Stags’ point man Trevor Relaford scored a game-best 24 points, while Watson netted 16 in theiranticipated match-up.“I thought both players were as good as advertised,” Parra said. “Trevor is probably a little better passer, whileNeil is the better shooter. They are a big reason why both teams are as successful as they are.”Sumner (18-2) will play Bishop Ward (8-11) on Monday night in a 4A substate game at Sumner. Piper (12-7),also is the Eudora bracket, will play Baldwin (11-8) on Monday night at Kansas City Kansas CommunityCollege.“We're excited to be the No. 1 seed,” Parra said. “But everyone enters substate with the same record (0-0). Oursubstate is as tough as any in the state. Piper, Baldwin, and St. James, are capable of beating anyone, atanytime.”