PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys basketball team equaled its win total from last year with a 74-64 Olympic League victory over North Mason.
Achieving three wins in four games is a sign of improvement after the Roughriders floundered through a 3-17 season last season, but the significance ends there with 16 games left on the schedule.
“I’m glad; we got a win, that’s always good, but we’re focused on the next one,” Port Angeles coach Brent Stephens said after Wednesday’s game.
“We have to focus on the next one. We don’t have time to look back.”
The Riders came out on a roll, outscoring the Bulldogs 9-2 in the first two minutes of the game.
But North Mason chipped away at the lead, and trailed by just one, 15-14, at the end of the first quarter.
That was the first of many times that Port Angeles looked poised to break the game open, only to have North Mason battle its way back into the game.
“We started to get up and then coast,” Stephens said.
“We figured that they would just fold.
“I guess my group hasn’t figured out that [North Mason is] pretty good. I mean, everybody is going to compete. It’s varsity; nobody tucks their tail.”
The Riders were led by Hunter Hathaway who had 21 points, Derek Schumacher who scored 19 and Hayden Gunderson with 18 points.
But Stephens said defense is what finally allowed Port Angeles to secure the win.
And the improved defense led to scoring opportunities.
“We started playing defense,” Stephens said. “We got a lot of breakaways, we got a lot of layups.
“When we play defense, we’re really good, we’re a really tough team to beat. When we don’t play defense, we’re just OK.”
Stephens singled out senior Tristan Isett for his role in holding North Mason’s Matt Duckworth to only five second-half points after netting 11 in the first two quarters.
Isett also tied Austin Polly for the team lead in steals with four each.
Schumacher led the Riders with eight rebounds, followed by Hathaway and Cameron Burns with six apiece.
Brady Konopaski dished out seven assists and Gunderson finished with five.
Port Angeles (2-0 in league, 3-1 overall) travels to face Kingston (0-1, 0-2) tonight.
“We play Kingston . . . and we’ve got to get better than we were [against North Mason],” Stephens said.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
