Defense Defines the Night as Panthers Fall to Rogers in Tight 50–45 Battle

The Insider
3 days ago
3 min read

Tuesday night’s matchup between Bonney Lake and Rogers had all the ingredients of a thriller, and it played out exactly that way.

Both teams entered the night 4–1 in league play, tied for second in the district standings. Bonney Lake came in ranked 76th in the state, Rogers just ahead at 69th. Add in the Panthers coming off a tough non-league loss to Kennedy Catholic, and this game felt like an early postseason test.

From the opening tip, the theme was clear: defense.

First Quarter: Defense Sets the Tone

Both teams came out locked in defensively, applying pressure on every possession. Passing lanes were contested, shots were challenged, and nothing came easy.

Nakiah Barrett set the early tone for Bonney Lake, scoring the Panthers’ first four points and finishing the night as the team’s leading scorer with 11 points. Despite the Panthers’ pressure, Rogers found early success inside the paint, jumping out to an 11–7 lead.

Bonney Lake responded with fierce defense late in the quarter, forcing turnovers and turning stops into points. The Panthers closed the first on a run to take a slim 15–14 lead.

Second Quarter: Back-and-Forth Battle

Rogers opened the second with a 6–0 run, leaning heavily on their interior game. Bonney Lake answered quickly.

Selena Meki knocked down the Panthers’ first three of the night, cutting the deficit to two at 20–18. Moments later, she hit another from deep to keep the Panthers right in it.

Defense continued to dominate both ends. Bonney Lake’s pressure kept the Rams from pulling away, but Rogers remained efficient in the paint. With the score tied 24–24, the Rams drained a last-second three to head into halftime up 29–28.

Third Quarter: Points at a Premium

The third quarter mirrored the first half, physical, fast-paced, and defensive. Scoring was hard to come by as both teams made every possession a grind.

Rogers slowly inched ahead behind steady interior scoring, while Bonney Lake continued to battle defensively. With offense limited on both sides, the Rams extended their lead to 38–34 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Down to the Wire

Izzy Meki opened the fourth with a three, immediately pulling the Panthers back within reach. With five minutes remaining, Rogers held just a three-point lead, and the game felt like it could swing either way.

The physicality ramped up as both teams fought for every loose ball. Izzy delivered another clutch moment, knocking down a huge three to tie the game at 42–42, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Rogers answered with a three of their own and managed to stay just ahead the rest of the way. Even down by two with under a minute left, Bonney Lake couldn’t quite get over the hump as the Rams executed late and closed it out.

Final score: Rogers 52, Bonney Lake 45.

Bonney Lake Box Score

Nakiah Barrett – 11 points
Selena Meki – 10 points
Azy Jackson – 9 points
Izzy Meki – 8 points
Liz Mapu-Togiola Tavai – 4 points
Ariah Meng – 3 points

What’s Next

Bonney Lake heads down the hill on Thursday for a rivalry showdown against Sumner at Sumner, a matchup that always brings intensity and playoff-level energy.

If Tuesday night was any indication, the Panthers are built for battles like that.