PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys basketball team completely shut down Bainbridge’s offense, but they could never get a big offensive run going themselves in a 41-38 loss.
It was the second game in a row in which the Riders allowed 41 points or less.
Afterward, coach Kasey Ulin was happy with his team’s effort.
“What a great game. That was a winner-to-state kind of intensity,” he said. “If we can bring that kind of intensity every game, no one will want to see us in the playoffs.
“I believed in them yesterday [after a 50-41 win over Eisenhower], and I believe in them even more after this game,” Ulin said.
Ulin was also happy that his team committed just six turnovers. Bainbridge is a tall, lanky team, ranked No. 10 in the state in Ratings Percentage Index and they got some crucial offensive rebounds in the second half that hurt the Riders. Ulin also thought that Brock Hope played physical and that Keatyn Hoch and Blake Sohlberg had good games defensively.
This game was close throughout. Bainbridge’s biggest lead was eight points and the Riders had a three-point lead at one point. There were six lead changes in the second half.
The game was a defensive slugfest throughout as the teams went into the half with Bainbridge up 16-15. The Riders were climbing up a hill all during that first half as the Spartans got off to an 8-0 lead, but Port Angeles was able to take its first lead of the game at 17-16 after a Blake Sohlberg bucket. Sohlberg added a 3-pointer and another bucket as the Riders took their biggest lead of the game at 24-21.
The Spartans hit a 3-pointer in the final second of the third quarter to take a 33-27 lead into the fourth. They built the lead up to 40-33 with 1:50 left in the game, but Port Angeles clawed back with four straight points from Gus Halberg, who battled foul trouble all night and played the whole fourth quarter with four fouls.
Halberg hit a basket on a fast break after Sohlberg stole the ball, then on the next possession, Halberg drew a foul with 11 seconds left. He made both free throws to make it 40-38, getting the Riders to within one possession. The Riders were forced to foul with 5.1 seconds left.
The Spartans made one free throw and missed the second, but Bainbridge was able to get the offensive rebound to ice the game.
Halberg led the team in scoring with 11, while Sohlberg made two 3-pointers in the game and also scored 11. Keatyn Hoch scored seven.
Port Angeles’ (1-8, 6-10) backs are against the wall as far as getting to the postseason. The Riders go on the road to play at Olympic, a team they beat earlier this season, to play at Olympic (4-5, 10-6) on Friday as every game in league is crucial now.
Bainbridge 41, Port Angeles 38
BI 8 8 17 8 — 41
PA 4 11 12 11 — 38
Port Angeles (38) — Halberg 11, Sohlberg 11, Hoch 7, Pierce 2, Hope 2, Brenkman 2, Angevine 2, Miller 1.
Sequim 63, North Mason 48
SEQUIM — The Sequim boys basketball team got off to a fast start, building up an 18-point lead by halftime and cruising to a 63-48 win over North Mason to remain tied for first place in the Olympic League.
The Wolves got big games from both Jericho Julmist and Solomon Sheppard. Julmist scored 26 and Sheppard 23.
The Wolves won by double digits even though North Mason hit eight 3-pointers and Sequim none. However, the Wolves made 25 2-pointers to the Bulldogs’ nine.
Sequim (8-1, 13-1), ranked No. 4 in the state in Ratings Percentage Index, has a huge road game Friday, going up against a tall Bainbridge team (7-2, 12-3) at 8 p.m. The Spartans, with seven players at 6-foot-4 or taller, will be gunning for a share of first place.
Sequim 63, North Mason 48
NM 6 11 19 12 — 48
Seq. 18 17 17 11 — 63
Sequim (63) — Julmist 26, Sheppard 23, Melnick 6, Grider 4, Rapelje 4.
Sequim’s Mason Rapelje (20) drives the ball against North Mason on Tuesday in Sequim. The Wolves won to improved to 12-1. (Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
