Late Rally Falls Short as Panthers Drop Heartbreaker to Emerald Ridge, 54–48

Azy Jackson - 22 points

Thursday night’s home matchup had all the signs of a strong opportunity for the Panthers. Bonney Lake entered the game second in the standings with a 9–5 overall record, fresh off a win against Curtis. Emerald Ridge arrived in fourth place at 5–6, but from the opening minutes, the Jaguars made it clear they weren’t playing like a fourth-place team.

Instead, they played with confidence, pressure, and poise, and that set the tone for a tough night.

Jaguars Strike First with Relentless Pressure

Emerald Ridge came out aggressive, forcing multiple early turnovers and jumping out to a 7–0 run. Their defensive pressure disrupted Bonney Lake’s offensive rhythm, and before the Panthers could settle in, the Jaguars had pushed the lead to 14–6.

Emerald Ridge’s pressure defense and efficient shot selection kept Bonney Lake on its heels, while the Panthers struggled to find clean looks early.

Nakiah Barrett - 11 points

Second Quarter: Panthers Find Their Footing

The Jaguars continued to apply pressure to start the second, extending their lead to 20–8. Emerald Ridge looked fast, disciplined, and patient, taking quality shots and making the Panthers work on every possession.

That’s when Nakiah Barrett began to turn the tide. Barrett attacked the basket aggressively, drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line three times in the quarter, scoring eight of her 11 points in the second alone.

Still, Emerald Ridge answered. Back-to-back three-pointers stretched the Jaguars’ lead to 32–22, but Bonney Lake refused to fade. Azy Jackson battled inside with scrappy play, Barrett stayed aggressive, and a long three from Selena Meki late in the quarter cut the deficit.

At halftime, Emerald Ridge held a 33–27 lead, but the Panthers were within striking distance.

Izzy Meki - 7 points

Third Quarter: Defense Continues to Dominate

Bonney Lake looked for a momentum shift coming out of the locker room, but much of the third quarter followed the same script. Emerald Ridge’s defense continued to force tough shots and limit second chances.

Heads-up plays from Azy Jackson kept the Panthers within reach, trimming the score to 35–29 midway through the quarter. Still, Emerald Ridge closed strong, pushing the lead back to 40–32 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Azy Takes Over

The final quarter belonged to Azy Jackson.

Jackson controlled the boards, set the pace defensively, and took over offensively. She scored nine of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter, driving to the basket, drawing fouls, and keeping Bonney Lake alive.

With just over three minutes left, Selena Meki drilled a massive three to cut the deficit to two, igniting the crowd and shifting momentum.

But Emerald Ridge answered once again.

The Jaguars were lethal from beyond the arc, finishing the night with 10 three-pointers. Every Panthers surge was met with a response. Azy answered one Jaguar three with a three of her own, and with 1:37 remaining, Nakiah Barrett hit a floater to pull Bonney Lake within one.

The gym was electric.

One final three from Emerald Ridge, however, proved to be the dagger. The Jaguars closed the final seconds at the line and sealed a 54–48 win.

Bonney Lake Box Score

• Azy Jackson – 22 points

• Nakiah Barrett – 11 points

• Selena Meki – 8 points

• Izzy Meki – 7 points

What’s Next

The Panthers head on the road Saturday for a doubleheader in Bothell, facing Bothell and Inglemoor, with the first tip set for 1:30 p.m.

Despite the loss, Thursday night showed the Panthers’ resilience, and just how dangerous they can be when momentum swings their way.