TUKWILA — Sequim stumbled down the stretch and missed out on a return to the Class 2A state tournament with a 58-57 loss to Olympic League foe North Kitsap in a loser-out, winner-to-state bi-district contest Saturday at Foster High School.
The Wolves had two shots to take the lead with the game tied at 57-all and 20 seconds left, but Libby Turella’s 3-pointer went in-and-out and Jolene Vaara’s attempt at a putback inside went long.
Sequim (13-7) then fouled North Kitsap’s Teagan Devries on the rebound and Devries hit 1 of 2 free throws with 6.3 seconds to play.
Vaara had another look as time expired, but her turnaround jump shot was short.
Sequim led 57-51 with 2 minutes to go after Bobbie Mixon knocked in a 3-point basket, but it was as if a lid had been sealed shut on the Wolves’ basket for the rest of the game.
“We struggled tonight finishing and making good decisions, but the girls played hard,” coach Joclin Julmist said. “They went out fighting [and] I’m proud of the girls and the season they had.”
In her last game for Sequim, Vaara led the team with 21 points, eight rebounds, six steals and four assists.
“She will be missed,” Julmist said. “She has had an amazing career. Those are going to be some big shoes to fill.”
Gracie Chartraw added 15 points, five rebounds and four steals.
“She had one of the most incredible freshmen campaigns in school history and can’t wait to see what she does next year,” Julmist said.
Turella was the team’s heart and soul according to Julmist.
“She sacrified her body every game,” Julmist said. “She played great defense and rebounded for us. She had 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and she took four charges for us on the night and 12 for the season. She does the things that don’t show up in the stats for us.”
North Kitsap 58, Sequim 57
North Kitsap 13 10 16 19 — 58
Sequim 14 10 20 13 — 57
Sequim (57): Vaara 21, Chartraw 15, Turella 13, Mixon 5, Brewer 3.
Friday’s Game
Sequim 76, North Mason 48
SEQUIM — Jolene Vaara scored a career-high 40 points and broke the 1,000-point scoring mark for her career as the Wolves dumped North Mason 76-48 in a bi-district tournament loser-out contest at Rick Kaps Gymnaisium on Friday.
Vaara hit 70-percent from the field (14-of-20) and 11-of-16 from the free-throw line, plus grabbed 12 rebounds (seven offensive), with six steals and three assists in her last game on the Sequim home floor.
Gracie Chartraw scored 18 with six rebounds and three steals.
Hailey Wagner scored six and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Wolves.
Libby Turella had a game coach Joclin Julmist loved. “Libby was amazing,” coach Joclin Julmist said. “She took three charges, grabbed seven rebounds with four assists two steals and three points.”
Sequim 76, North Mason 48
North Mason 15 5 18 10 — 48
Sequim 15 27 18 16 — 76
Sequim ( 76) Vaara 40, Chartraw 18, Mixon 8, Wagner 6, Turella 3, Heyting 1.
