PORT ANGELES — Foul trouble, turnovers and a sharp-shooting member of the Spartans all conspired to down previously unbeaten Port Angeles in a 58-55 loss to Bainbridge that dropped the Roughriders from the top spot in the Olympic League.
“Bainbridge is a well-coached, skilled team, a cohesive group,” Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin said. “But we shot ourselves in the foot all night long. We just gave them too many chances, too many turnovers, too many extra opportunities on the glass — we didn’t rebound like we normally do. They won more loose balls than us. We were not very good tonight.”
Port Angeles led by as much as nine, 41-32, with 1:47 left in the third quarter, but the Spartans shot themselves back into the contest with baby-faced assassin Andrew Ward hitting for 14 of his game-high 28 in the final frame.
“We just weren’t that good. We had moments where we were good — you look up and we are up 10 and still not playing that good, but they were definitely better than us down the stretch,” Ulin said.
With numerous stoppages for foul calls on both ends of the floor, it was difficult for the Riders to get in any rhythm in the first half as forward Wyatt Dunning racked up three first-half fouls and 6-foot-9 post John Vaara sat with two fouls. Vaara was getting going inside in the third, scoring back-to-back buckets when he was whistled for three quick fouls, finally fouling out of the contest with 13.7 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We haven’t had any close games and you could tell, we just didn’t execute that closely,” Ulin said. “John fouls out, Wyatt is in foul trouble so we are playing in some different lineups that weren’t very cohesive.”
Reserve post Adam Watkins came on and scored six points in the fourth, but Port Angeles couldn’t get stops late on the defensive end.
“Adam was great in the fourth, he made huge plays, won some balls, created some great shots at the rim,” Ulin said.
Dru Clark hit a 3-pointer to pull the Riders back within 56-55 with 12 seconds to play, but after a pair of Ward free throws, Xander Maestas and Clark each missed potential game-tying 3s in the final seconds.
“Last play of the game we got two great looks that we wanted but the game didn’t come down to that last possession,” Ulin said.
With defending state champion North Kitsap up Saturday on the road, Ulin was clear about the next steps for his team.
“We just have to get better. We were all honest with each other, I’ll get better, they’ll get better,” Ulin said.
“This is a weird year with no state tournament to shoot for. So our whole mission is about pursuing more than winning and character growth.
“So we need everybody to look at what you did tonight and what you could have done better and know there’s a quick turnaround, so you can’t live in feeling sorry for yourself and have a poor pregame practice or we’ll lose to North Kitsap by 30.”
Bainbridge 58, Port Angeles 55
Bain. 12 7 18 21 — 58
PA 14 13 14 14 — 55
Port Angeles (55) — Clark 11, Cobb 11, Vaara 10, Maestas 9, Dunning 8, Watkins 6, Wheeler, Hall, Soule.
Bainbridge (58) — Ward 28, Hennessey 10, Kirsch 8, Ulin 4, Durrance 4, Treskin 3, Moore 1.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Dru Clark, top, makes a leaping pass to teammate Chase Cobb while surrounded by the Bainbridge defense, from left, Cliff Hennessey, Jacob Kirsch and Everett Moore, on Thursday at Port Angeles High School.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Xander Maestas, right, slides to the lane around Bainbridge’s James Carey during Thursday night’s game in Port Angeles.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Xander Maestas, left, gets a screen from teammate John Vaara as Bainbridge’s Luke Lavigne, right, tries to get to the ball on Thursday in Port Angeles.
