PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys basketball started slow, but rebounded to defeat St. Michaels of Victoria 55-45 at Port Angeles High School.
The win, which halted a four-game losing streak, came just in time for the Roughriders.
“This was a great win as we go into league play,” first-year Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin said after Friday’s game.
“I hope this gives us some added confidence as we head into a big week ahead.”
The Riders (1-1, 4-5) were the area’s busiest team during winter break, playing six nonleague games since Friday, Dec. 19.
They jump back into Olympic League play Tuesday with a home matchup with North Kitsap (2-1, 6-4), which is followed by a nonleague tilt against Chimacum (1-7) at home Wednesday and a road showdown with rival Sequim (2-1, 5-4) on Friday.
Port Angeles fell behind to St. Michaels 14-6 in the first half of Friday’s game before playing what Ulin said was “our best three quarters of basketball all season.”
“We showed some poise after falling behind early,” Ulin said. “The kids battled hard all game and really showed how [much] they have improved.
“Our defense was solid and led to some key transition points.
“We also took care of the basketball, with only 11 turnovers. We have been working on making every possession count and keeping our turnovers under 12 a game.”
Hunter Hathaway led the way again for the Riders with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Janson Pederson made some key plays and finished with 14 points, while Nathan Angevine had 10.
Jason Scully topped the Blue Jags with 22 points in the loss.
Port Angeles 55, St. Michaels 45
St. Michaels 9 7 13 16—45
Port Angeles 6 16 16 17—55
Individual scoring
St. Michaels (45)
Peet 6, McGoff 5, N. Angevine 10, Hathaway 16, Rogers 3, Pederson 14, Boesenberg 1.
Port Angeles (55)
Wilmott 4, McColl 3, Pollen 4, Scully 22, Caton 5, Catto 2.
Eatonville 54, Forks 47
FORKS — The Spartans allowed the Cruisers too many second-chance opportunities in this Evergreen League matchup at Forks High School.
Forks coach Rick Gooding tried switching the defense from zone to man-to-man, but the Spartans still struggled to box out.
“Which was horrible to see,” Gooding said after Friday’s game.
“We’ve got to start out-working some teams, especially as young as we are.
“We’ve got to find some grind and toughness.”
Forks was led by Colton Raben’s 14 points, all of which came in the second half.
Parker Browning added 13 points, Marky Adams had eight and Cole Basinger scored seven for the Spartans.
Forks (0-5, 1-7) hosts another league foe, Hoquiam (3-1, 6-4), Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.
Eatonville 54, Forks 47
Eatonville 18 11 13 12— 54
Forks 14 4 14 15— 47
Individual scoring
Eatonville (54)
Springer 11, McCormick 2, Tomal 3, Warner 2, Brandt 7, Johnson 4, York 4, Moeller 2, Hutchins 11.
Forks (47)
Schumack 2, Raben 14, Ramsey 2, Basinger 7, Adams 8, Browning 13, Pegram, Tejano, Rondeau.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated to correct Forks’ next opponent.
