PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend girls basketball team said new head coach Lorraine Rimson was being “mean” when she told the squad they were capable of more than they had shown in early-season contests before the Redhawks took the floor for their annual Crush in the Slush holiday tournament.
And Port Townsend displayed the type of effort and execution Rimson is hoping to see more of in Friday night’s 48-38 win over Granite Falls at Bruce Blevins Gymnasium.
“You came out on a good night,” Rimson said after watching her Redhawks pressure passing lanes for interceptions and deflections that led to run-out, rim-running baskets in transition and feed posts Izzy Hammett and Gina Brown for scores inside.
“Our press worked for us and got us out in transition and Gina and Izzy were great for us inside on offense and defense.”
That included holding Granite Falls scoreless in the second quarter as Port Townsend went ahead 23-15 at halftime.
Hammett led all scorers with 18 points. She also contributed multiple rebounds, steals and blocked shots as Port Townsend used its height to its advantage on both ends.
Brown added eight points and numerous boards for the Redhawks.
Aurin Asbell had 12 points, none bigger than a third-quarter three-point basket that answered a Granite Falls score
Mackenzie Lake also played well, especially on the defensive side at the top of Port Townsend’s press.
Post Katie Ballard put the exclamation point on the victory with a late 3-pointer.
“This is such a confidence-boosting win,” Rimson said. “We needed to have a game like this where we play well and really get to see what we are capable of, especially with a game against a 2A team (late Saturday against Olympic).”
The Redhawks (1-1, 3-5) visit Seattle Christian on Jan. 8.
Port Townsend 48, Granite Falls 38
Granite Falls 15 0 11 12 — 38
Port Townsend 12 11 13 12 — 48
Granite Falls (38) — McGill 14, Brotherton 11, White 6, Downs 4, J. Rodenbaugh 3.
Port Townsend (48) — Hammett 18, Asbell 9, Brown 8, Lake 5, Johnston 4, Ballard 3, Fountain 1.
Boys Basketball
Granite Falls 52, Port Townsend 47
PORT TOWNSEND — The Redhawks had a shot late to tie the game after a Noa Montoya steal, but rushed the possession, forcing up a quick shot that missed and Port Townsend never recovered in a nonleague loss to the Tigers on Friday at the Crush in the Slush tournament.
“We got beat up on the boards inside and gave up way too many second-chance points,” Redhawks coach Tom Webster said.
Granite Falls’ Sam Sylliaasen led the Tigers with 21 points, nine of those coming in the third quarter, as Granite Falls went up by as much as nine after a back-and-forth first half.
“And all of his shots came from within one to four feet,” Webster said. “We didn’t do a good enough job of guarding him or boxing out and keeping them off the glass.”
Montoya had 25 points, scoring all 12 of Port Townsend’s first-quarter output.
“He finished really well inside,” Webster said of his senior leader.
“When we made the extra pass offensively we got really good looks and we made most of those shots. But most of the time we were shooting quickly and not making much.”
The Redhawks’ youth showed in the final minutes. Port Townsend got within two, 47-45, with 2:13 to play on a free throw by Devin Harris. But the Redhawks airballed a jumper that would have tied it and forced a quick three after a Montoya steal that would have given Port Townsend the lead.
A Montoya bucket inside again put the Redhawks within two with 1:09 left, but Port Townsend turned the ball over and was forced to foul to try and extend the game.
Port Townsend (1-6) faced Tyee late Saturday in the Crush tourney finale. The Redhawks will be back at it at home against Kingston on Jan. 7.
Granite Falls 52, Port Townsend 47
Granite Falls 13 9 17 13 — 52
Port Townsend 12 11 12 12 — 47
Granite Falls (52) — Sylliaasen 21, Klein 12, Mayer 8, Waud 6, Burns 3, Hoople 1, Fitzgerald 1.
Port Townsend (47) — Montoya 25, Zabransky 9, Coggins 8, Toner 2, Kenny 2, Harris 1, Petta.
Tyee 71, Chimacum 24
PORT TOWNSEND — The Cowboys couldn’t stay with the Totems in a matchup of two teams seeking their first win of the season.
Tyee 71, Chimacum 24
Tyee 27 12 22 14 — 71
Chimacum 8 4 2 12 — 24
Tyee (71) — Deressa 15, Debetsion 12, Bduallni 8, Traore 8, Tamayo 6, Mohamed 6, Ali 6, Keomahavona 4, Vasic 3.
Chimacum (24) — Smith 7, Carstensen 6, Martin 5, Cerna 4, Bacchus, Yingling, Clark, Hinds.
