SEQUIM — Sequim junior forward Jolene Vaara displayed capability and versatility all season in leading the Wolves to a staggering number of accomplishments in the 2022-23 girls basketball season.
Vaara’s play was the catalyst in leading the Wolves to a 14-0 record in Olympic League play and a 23-4 overall record, a second-place finish at the District 2/3 tournament and a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament — the school’s first state tournament trophy in girls hoops.
Olympic League coaches selected Vaara as both the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year and she has been picked as the Peninsula Daily News All-Peninsula Girls Basketball MVP by the paper’s sports staff.
An incredibly consistent scorer offensively, the 5-foot, 10-inch Vaara totaled 17 points per outing.
Despite missing some games late in the season due to a sprained ankle, she scored 15 points or more in 14 of the 24 games she played. She had scoring outbursts of 29 against Bainbridge (Dec. 6), 26 against Bremerton (Dec. 8), 24 against Olympic (Jan. 5), 25 against North Mason (Jan. 24) and 20 against North Kitsap (Jan. 19) and Bremerton (Jan. 17).
She came through clutch as Sequim snapped a decades-long losing streak in the Port Angeles gym, hitting a key 3-point basket from the left corner to put the Wolves up four points late in a 40-36 win.
“I could see it with everyone; we would do anything to win that game,” Vaara said.
“We have been coming here for so many years and not coming home happy. We are pretty pumped to win and to get to bring it back to our town, so I think we are really proud of that.”
And Vaara was more than up to the task defensively, displaying even more of a knack for jumping passing lanes, swiping steals and leading the Wolves on fast-break opportunities. Vaara averaged a Peninsula-high 4.16 steals per game to go along with five rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks.
As a senior, Vaara will be called on to carry even more of the load for the Wolves thanks to the departure of Peninsula College-bound teammates Hannah Bates and Jelissa Julmist, so it wouldn’t be out of the question to see her statistics rise as well — particularly as a playmaker and distributor.
2022-23 All-Peninsula Girls Basketball Team
• MVP: Jolene Vaara, jr., F, Sequim: Olympic League MVP and defensive player of the year totaled 17 points and 4.16 steals per game to go along with five rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks.
• Allie Greene, sr., G, Neah Bay: Class 1B MVP guided Red Devils to first state championship. All-state selection averaged 17.4 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals. Shot 98-for-221 (44 percent) on 3-point attempts. Scored 1,145 career points despite a limited COVID season. Signed to play for Peninsula College.
• Anna Petty, sr., G, Port Angeles: All-Olympic League first-team pick led Roughriders in scoring (12.1 ppg.), assists (4.1), steals (2.8) and also added 4.2 rebounds. Provided leadership for young team.
• Keira Johnson, jr., G, Forks: Led Pacific League champ Spartans with 21.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 2.1 assists. Scored her 1,000th point during junior season.
• Kadie Wood, sr., G, Forks: Second-team All-Pacific League pick was on- and off-court leader for Spartans with 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.1 assists.
• Kyra Neel, sr., P, Forks: First-team All-Pacific Leaguer battled inside for 11.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals for state-regional-bound Spartans.
• Hannah Bates, sr., G, Sequim: Ironwoman played in all 27 games for Wolves, averaging 10.7 points, team-high 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and earning first-team All-Olympic League and all-state game selection. Signed to play for Peninsula College.
• Jelissa Julmist, sr., P, Sequim: Double-double machine came back from 2022 ACL injury to average 11.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocks. All-state team selection for fourth-place Wolves. Signed to play for Peninsula College.
• Paige Mason, jr., F, Port Angeles: Totaled 6.7 points on team-best 43 percent shooting. Second with 6 rebounds and added two steals. Honorable mention All-Olympic League.
• Lindsay Smith, fr., G, Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League pick was second on Riders in scoring (7.7), third in rebounds (4.3) and steals (2.5).
• Lexie Smith, so., P, Port Angeles: Continued to become more of a post presence, leading Port Angeles with 7.7 rebounds and getting in the passing lanes for 2.7 steals a game, good for second on the team.
• Amber Swan, jr., G/P, Neah Bay: State champ and all-state pick put up 8.1 points, team-high 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists and also swiped two steals a contest.
• Ryana Moss, jr., G/P, Neah Bay: State champion and all-state pick averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
• Alyssa Vandenberg, sr., P, East Jefferson: Anchored the post for Rivals with double-double averages in points and rebounds. First-team All-Nisqually League pick.
• Coach of the Year: Cherish Moss guided her alma mater Neah Bay to school’s first girls state title in her first season as head coach.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
