SEQUIM — If only they had charged an entrance fee to Sequim’s boys basketball victory over Neah Bay.
The unusual Saturday afternoon matinee lacked the customary Sequim ticket staff manning the doors of Rick Kaps Gymnasium.
Patrons would have received their money’s worth and then some, as the Wolves held off a second-half charge from the Red Devils to win 72-66.
Sequim’s Alex Barry scored 23 of his 25 points, including three first-half 3-pointers, in the first half to lead the Wolves to 22-16 and 42-33 leads after the first and second quarters, while Neah Bay’s Ryan Moss knocked down seven 3-point attempts on his way to 25 points.
“That was really worth the price of admission, which was free,” Sequim coach Greg Glasser joked afterwards.
“The game was so hectic and played at such a high pace that it really was the type of game that prepares you well for districts,” Glasser said.
The class 2A Wolves (2-0 Olympic League, 3-0 overall) went looking for an opponent this fall after 3A Bainbridge pulled out of a scheduled contest.
In stepped the 1B Red Devils, who nearly marched out with a victory in their season opener.
With many of the Neah Bay players just eight days removed from winning the class 1B state football championship, the rusty Red Devils gave Sequim all it could handle.
“We have some injured bodies, for sure, but I think we did many things right,” Neah Bay coach Gerrad Brooks said.
One of the things Neah Bay corrected at halftime was their inability to cover Barry, who canned his first seven shots of the game on a variety of short jumpers, shots in the paint and 3-pointers.
“We lost Barry in transition and he made us pay in the first half,” Brooks said.
“In the second half we did a great job on help-side [defense] and got out on their shooters.”
Neah Bay outscored Sequim 21-14 in the third quarter, including a 10-0 run to take the lead 54-53 after a 3-ball from Moss with 35 seconds left in the period.
Moss knocked down three of his seven 3-point baskets in the third for the Red Devils.
Sequim knocked down three free throws to go up 56-54 entering the fourth.
With Barry locked down, Sequim’s other contributors stepped up to seal the game.
Rory Kallappa, a former Neah Bay resident who had a large rooting section of comprised of both Red Devils and Wolves fans, knocked down seven of his 14 points in the final frame for the Wolves.
On consecutive possessions, Kallappa nailed a 3-pointer and was fouled while attempting another, hitting two of the three subsequent free throws to give Sequim a 61-55 lead with just over 6 minutes to play.
Neah Bay’s aggressive defense landed them in foul trouble in the fourth quarter, putting Josiah Greene and Ezekiel Greene on the bench with five fouls apiece and sending Sequim to the line to hit 8 of 14 free throws in the last quarter.
George Johnson nailed the dagger for Sequim, a 3-pointer from the left side of the court for a 70-61 lead with 2:15 to play.
A Moss 3 and an Abraham Venske layup after a Neah Bay steal cut the Wolves’ lead to 71-66 in the final minute, but Neah Bay was unable to get any closer.
Vance Willis scored 12 points and Anthony Pinza had eight off the bench for Sequim.
Jongi Claplanhoo had 14 for the Red Devils and Josiah Greene notched nine for the Red Devils.
“Our boys do not like to lose, but it’s not bad to lose to a great 2A team [such as Sequim],” Brooks said.
Glasser mentioned he’d like the chance to play Neah Bay again at anytime.
“We grew so much in this game and it’s such a good lesson for us as we go forward,” Glasser said.
The Wolves visit Kingston tonight and Neah Bay (0-1) will play at Forks on Wednesday.
Sequim 72, Neah Bay 66
Neah Bay 16 17 21 12— 66
Sequim 22 20 14 16— 72
Individual scoring
Neah Bay (0-1)
Moss 25, Claplanhoo 14, Josiah Greene 9, Ezekiel Greene 6, Venske 6, McCaulley 2, Buttram 2, Martinez 2.
Home (3-0)
Barry 25, Kallappa 14, Willis 12, Pinza 8, Johnson 5, Christensen 5, McConnaughey 3.
