STEILACOOM — Port Angeles failed to take advantage of freebies and allowed too many second chances in
its 55-43 loss to Steilacoom in the opening round of the District 2/3 boys basketball tournament.
“Offensive rebounds and missed free throws let the game slip away from us,” Roughriders coach Kasey Ulin said of Wednesday’s game.
Port Angeles (10-11) will try to keep its season going when it plays the Sammamish Totems (9-12) at Sumner High School tonight at 6 p.m.
“We play again [today] against Samammish in a loser-out game, so there is no time to feel sorry for ourselves,” Ulin said.
“We need to regroup, refocus and be mentally ready to compete at the highest level. This will be a great challenge for us, but I am confident we will bounce back and play well.”
Wednesday’s game went back and forth for most of the first three quarters.
The Riders took a 35-34 lead late in the third, but Steilacoom hit a 3-pointer before the quarter ended to take a lead that it would never relinquish.
“Up to that point we had given up 14 offensive rebounds and were 7 of 20 from the line,” Ulin said.
“We played very good defense until then, but when you give a good team that many extra chances you are not going to win too many games.
“We controlled the tempo for three quarters, and if we rebound a little better and knock 75 percent of our free throws down, we are up 10 going into the fourth.”
The Sentinels turned several Port Angeles turnovers into fast-break layups to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Lambros Rogers scored 10 points and grabbed 21 rebounds for the Riders.
“Lambros Rogers was a monster on the boards, as he has been all year,” Ulin said.
“I cannot say enough about how great of a rebounder Lambros is. He will go down as one of the [best] rebounders in Port Angeles boys basketball history.”
Noah McGoff led the Riders in scoring with 12 points, including three long-distance 3-pointers.
“Noah hit three shots from about 25 feet,” Ulin said. “He has unlimited range.”
Grayson Peet had a solid all-around performance with seven points, eight assists and three steals.
LaJon Enis-Carter scored 14 points to pace Steilacoom (15-6).
________
Compiled using team reports.
