Sumner Academy junior Kyun Jackson shot a contested layup in Friday’s boys’ basketball game with Turner High School. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Turner Golden Bears came back from an early deficit to win their first victory of the season against the Sumner Academy Sabres, 58-50, on Friday night at Sumner.
The Sabres scored the contest’s first 9 points, and Turner couldn’t get its offense into gear in the first quarter. Sumner got 6 points each from Kyun Jackson and Xavier Wallace to post a 17-9 first-quarter lead.
The Bears made their move in the second quarter, getting key baskets from Cedric Bates and Arnaldo Silvestre, and finally taking a lead with three minutes remaining. Turner went to halftime with a 29-27 lead.
The teams slugged it out in the third quarter, with neither being able to get much of an advantage. When it looked as if Sumner might pull ahead again, Silvestre and Jalen Nelson hit back-to-back three-point shots to regain the lead.
Turner hit the gas in the fourth quarter, moving out to a 17-point lead with Bates’s size and strength in the paint making a key difference. Sumner’s Jackson performed some late-game heroics to narrow the gap to 8 at the buzzer.
Jalen Nelson led the Bears in scoring with 16 points, including four-of-four free throws in the fourth quarter. Bates added 13. Jackson led all scorers with 21 points for Sumner, 11 in the fourth quarter.
The win gives the Bears some momentum going into Tuesday’s match against the Bishop Ward Cyclones. Sumner will play at Harmon on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Turner junior Jalen Nelson turned the corner to drive the baseline. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Plenty of Chiefs red was mixed in with Sumner blue as the city prepared for the Super Bowl. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Turner sophomore Cedric Bates pulled down a defensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Sumner senior Dominic Lee fought for an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Turner junior Arnaldo Silvestre contested a shot from Sumner freshman Jammial Hicks. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Dominic Lee took a three-point shot from the corner. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) The Sumner dance team performed during halftime. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Turner senior Jadin Kimbrel took a lay-up off a fast break. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) The Turner cheerleaders performed stunts during a break between quarters. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Jammial Hicks went way up for a mid-range jumper. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel) Turner senior Isaiah Belcher-Steen shot a jumper from the left corner. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
