SEQUIM — Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin knows a few things about shooting.
In fact, he literally made a living at it, playing professionally overseas for several years before returning to the North Olympic Peninsula last year.
But even Ulin is in awe of Alex Barry’s long-distance shooting.
“I had range, but he’s got a different type of range,” Ulin said of Sequim’s senior standout.
After Barry put up 28 points on the Roughriders in the Wolves’ 52-46 rivalry win last week, Ulin joked that Barry was shooting from Jefferson County.
“I can go all the way back to the half-court circle, and I’ve been known to shoot from there,” Barry said.
Not only can Barry score from long-distance, he’s also usually one of the tallest players on the court at 6-foot-5, which makes him a matchup nightmare.
A shorter player will have a difficult time affecting Barry’s shot and a taller player might struggle to stay in front of Barry, who, as Sequim coach Greg Glasser reminded after the Port Angeles game, can do more than swish 3s.
When the Roughriders tied Friday’s game at 46-46 with 2 minutes remaining, Glasser called a play that gave Barry the ball in 3-point range.
Barry quickly nailed a 3-pointer, but that wasn’t the only viable option on the play.
“Once he catches it there, he can do some things,” Glasser said.
“He’s not just a shooter; he can put the ball on the ground and get to the hole.”
Barry also is more than just a scorer. In 13 games this season, he is averaging 21.4 points. 11.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 3 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
He also has made more than 25 treys.
Teammate Vance Willis said Barry’s long-distance shooting stretches the defense, which makes scoring easier for the rest of the Wolves.
“It’s nice because it really draws out the defense and opens things up for other people,” Willis said.
“It’s really nice, especially when we’re coming down the stretch and it’s a close one, you can rely on him.”
Barry has put in a lot of time over the years to develop his range.
“When I was really little, I wasn’t really good at shooting 3s,” Barry said, “and I just spent hours and shot hundreds of shots each day and continued to work on my range.”
There are stories about Barry working on his game throughout the Peninsula.
Forks coach Rick Gooding said Barry has been known to play hoops in Forks during the offseason with Spartans star Colton Raben, also an excellent shooter.
Barry and Raben even teamed up at last year’s Frank Crippen Memorial Tournament.
Former Port Angeles player Nick Fairchild remembers playing with Barry at a camp put on by former Roughriders coach Wes Armstrong.
“I just try to find any time to get in the gym to get better,” Barry said.
Somehow, Barry also manages to be one of the top javelin throwers in school history.
He took third at the Class 2A state championship meet and was named the PDN’s All-Peninsula Boys Track and Field MVP last year.
Back to Ulin’s joke.
Barry will actually play in Jefferson County tonight when the Wolves face Chimacum at 7 p.m.
He is coming off a week in which he lit up a pair of Clallam County teams.
First, he scored 37 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and had three blocks in an 84-64 road win over Neah Bay last Wednesday.
Then, along with his 28 points against Port Angeles on Friday, Barry had 13 rebounds and five blocks.
Against the three area teams the Wolves have played this year (they also defeated Port Townsend last month), Barry is averaging 28.7 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
