SEQUIM — It was more of a snowy game than a Rainshadow Rivalry between the Port Angeles and Sequim boys basketball teams.
And the Roughriders obliged with a blizzard of 3-pointers.
Played in a heavy snowfall that wreaked havoc on U.S. Highway 101, the Roughriders got a stiff challenge well into early part of the second half from Sequim, but pulled away with a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter, going on to win 77-52.
With the victory, the Riders remain in a second-place logjam up at the top of the Olympic League, with North Kitsap, one of the top-ranked teams in the state, sitting in first place at 7-0. Port Angeles is 5-2 along with Bremerton and Bainbridge.
Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin said Dallas Dunning had an “amazing” game for the Roughriders. He had a career-high five 3-pointers for 19 points but also had some crucial blocks and steals on defense.
Sequim coach Craig Brooks said the Wolves did not expect that kind of outside shooting from Dunning.
“We didn’t have that in our scouting report,” he said.
He was pleased with how the Wolves defended the inside play of Port Angeles’ 6-foot-6 Isaiah Shamp, who was held to seven points. He also said the Wolves came out hard at the beginning of the second half, making a game of it after Port Angeles threatened a blowout early.
“Their defensive pressure got to us a little bit,” he said.
Ulin also gave a lot of credit to his bench. The Riders’ two big offensive guns, Parker Nickerson and Shamp, had to sit for a spell in the second half because both players had three fouls. Alex Angevine and Blake Sohlberg both hit 3-pointers off the bench and Ezra Townsend scored six points, including a beautiful drive to the basket for a layup as part of the Riders’ second-half surge.
“They gave us a huge spark,” Ulin said. “Ezra is the best teammate of all time. He’s so unselfish.”
“It was a good rivalry game, [but] at the same time, it’s just any other game. We just play our game,” said Port Angeles’ Gus Halberg, who had 11 points, including three coming on a 35-foot 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.
Halberg had been a quiet scorer for the Riders, but has averaged 16.5 a game over his past two games.
“I’m starting to find my shot. Anything I can do to contribute and help,” he said.
Ulin was also happy where the team is sitting in the standings. He pointed out that six out of the Riders’ seven league games have been on the road.
“We’re excited where we’re at. It will be nice to be home. We can’t wait to defend our home,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sequim sits at 3-4 in league now, right behind Port Angeles, Bremerton and Bainbridge.
“We still have the playoff picture in front of us. We like to steal one from Bremerton or Bainbridge,” he said.
The Riders killed the Wolves from downtown in perhaps their best shooting game of the year. In addition to Dunning’s shooting, Parker Nickerson hit three 3s and scored 21 as Port Angeles drilled a total of 12 3-pointers.
The Riders got up huge early, building up a lead of 36-15 late in the first half. The Wolves clawed back, however, going on a 7-0 run to end the half, finishing with a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Lars Wiker to cut the lead to 36-22. Wiker had his best game of the year for the Wolves with three 3-pointers and 15 points.
The Wolves kept up the momentum early in the second half as Shamp and Nickerson both had to sit. Keenan Green quickly hit a 3-pointer and Wiker added a pair of free throws as Sequim extended its run to 12-0 to get within single digits at 36-27.
After Port Angeles’ Kason Albaugh and Green exchanged 3-pointers to make the score 39-30, the Riders took over with Dunning leading the charge by forcing a turnover, blocking a shot and scoring five straight points as the Riders quickly made the score 49-30. Dunning added another block and three more 3-pointers in the half as the Riders’ lead grew to 28 points late in the fourth. Port Angeles finished the game outscoring Sequim 38-22 down the stretch.
Green finished with 13 and Solomon Sheppard eight for the Wolves
Port Angeles (5-2, 9-4) has a huge home game Tuesday, hosting Bremerton (5-2,11-2) at 7 p.m.
Sequim (3-4, 7-5) is scheduled to host Clover Park (3-8) at 5 p.m. today.
Port Angeles 77, Sequim 52
Port Angeles 19 17 17 24— 77
Sequim 12 10 13 17— 52
Port Angeles (77) — Nickerson 21, Dunning 19, G. Halberg 11, Shamp 7, Townsend 6, Albaugh 5, Angevine 3, Sohlberg 3.
Sequim (52) — Wiker 15, Green 13, Sheppard 8, Grider 6, Schmadeke 4, Rapelje 4, Melnick 2.
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Port Angeles’ Parker Nickerson shoots while defended by Sequim’s Zeke Schamedke, center, and Charlie Grider during the Riders’ 77-52 Rainshadow Rumble rivalry victory Thursday.
