TACOMA — Missing six players, the Port Angeles boys basketball team relied on a huge game from Wyatt Dunning and some gritty play from bench and junior varsity players to come from behind and beat Foss 61-60 at the buzzer Friday night.
The boys were missing three starters, including 6-foot-9 center John Vaara, and had just six varsity players available.
“It was an amazing, gritty, tough team win,” said coach Kasey Ulin. “It was a culture win. We found out the day before the game we weren’t going to have players available, and we had to scrap the game plan.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of a group of guys,” Ulin said.
The Roughriders, who went 36-6 during the summer club season and come into the season ranked No. 4 in the state, found themselves down by six points with only 35 seconds to play when Kason Albaugh hit a bucket to bring Port Angeles to within four. Tyler Hunter then stole the ball on defense and got it to Dunning, who hit a clutch 3-pointer to bring the riders within one point.
With nine seconds left, the Riders got the ball back and Michael Soule hit Hunter coming down the middle of the court for a running shot at the buzzer to win the game.
Several Riders had big games, with Dunning leading the way with four 3-pointers, 30 points and 16 rebounds. Ulin said Dunning, a good-shooting 6-foot-5 forward, had some 40-point games this summer.
“Wyatt was an absolute stud,” he said.
Soule finished with 12 assists.
“I can’t say enough about what he did,” Ulin said.
Parker Nickerson had 16 points and six rebounds. Hunter finished with six points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Ezra Townsend had six rebounds.
The Riders (1-0) are next set to play at home at 7 p.m. Thursday in a league opener against North Mason.
Port Angeles 61, Foss 60
PA 16 13 14 18 — 61
Foss 13 14 25 8 — 60
Port Angeles (61) — Dunning 30, Nickerson 16, Soule 5, Hunter 4, Gunderson 3, Albaugh 3.
Foss (60) — Wilkins 22, Howard 14, Stuart 6, Carson 4, Lewis 2.
Fife 62, Sequim 50
FIFE — The Sequim boys basketball team was right in the game until the fourth quarter, but Fife was able to put in 23 points in the fourth to pull away for a 62-50 win over the Wolves.
Sequim was led by Keenan Green, who scored 20 points. Tyler Mooney had 12.
Sequim (1-1) will next play at Bainbridge on Tuesday.
Fife 62, Sequim 50
Seq. 11 16 11 12 — 50
Fife 15 13 11 23 — 62
Sequim (50) — Green 20, Mooney 12, Possin 6, Smithson 4, Grider 3, Thompson 2.
Fife (62) — Dizon 15, Policarpio 15, Olson 11, Orchard 10, Graham 9, Willhite 2.
Coupeville 71, Forks 53
COUPEVILLE — Forks gave up 48 points in the first half in a 71-53 loss against Coupeville on Saturday.
Coupeville had a 48-21 lead at the half. The Spartans did better in the second half, outscoring the Wolves 32-22, but it was too big of a hole to climb out of.
Logan Urvina led the Spartans with 11 points, while Brody Lausche, Keaton Northcut and Aiden Salazar all had eight points.
Forks (0-3) begins Pacific 2B League play with a home game at 7 p.m. Wednesday against North Beach.
Coupeville 71, Forks 53
Forks 13 8 14 18 — 53
C’Ville 23 25 10 12 — 71
Forks (71) — Urvina 11, Lausche 8, Northcut 8, Salazar 8, Doyle 6, Davis 4, Olson 3, Micheau 2.
Crescent 57, Lake Quinault 21
JOYCE — Crescent was led by 17 points from Brayden Emery in a 57-21 win over Lake Quinault on Saturday.
Weston Hart had nine points and Conner Ferro-May eight.
Crescent was scheduled to host Quilcene at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, but that game might be postponed because the Rangers just played in the state 1B football championship game on Saturday.
Crescent 57, Lake Quinault 21
LQ 3 6 2 10 — 21
Cres. 19 15 13 10 — 57
Crescent (57) — B. Emery 17, Hart 9, Ferro 8, Bauers 6, Bourm 5, T. Emery 4, Ferrel 4, Sprague 2, Watson 2, White 0, Owens 0, Elliot 0.
