PORT ANGELES — Maddie Boe’s old-school bounce pass through the lane found a wide-open Katyn Flores for a buzzer-beating, game-winning layup, lifting the Port Angeles girls to a 38-36 upset of sixth-ranked Black Hills.
“I knew there was eight seconds left, so I had to go as fast as I could down court,” Boe said of Friday’s final moments.
“Then I got stuck on the sideline, and coach always says don’t dribble down the sideline because it’s a bad move, so I pulled it back, went to the middle and dribbled through and Katyn happened to be open.
“I threaded the pass and she made the layin. That happened.”
Flores, meanwhile, was keeping pace with Boe on the opposite side of the floor.
When Boe was trapped just past halfcourt, Flores made her move to the left side of the hoop, just as Boe broke through.
“The two defenders split and I was open and she passed it,” Flores said.
“My thought was, ‘Am I close to the basket?’ And then I went up sideways and shot it with my left hand. I’m right-handed, so it’s normally more gentle with my left hand.”
With the game on the line, Flores said she felt no fear.
“I was totally not scared at all,” Flores said. “There was no moment where I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m shooting it.’ Just calm.
“And when everyone came running off the bench I realized how big it was.”
Port Angeles coach Michael Poindexter elected not to call timeout and set up a final play.
“I thought Maddie did a nice job of handling contact on that play near midcourt,” Poindexter said. “Good no-call, but she didn’t let it bother her.
“Black Hills was in disarray that last possession. That’s why I don’t like to call timeout if we have the ball.”
Poindexter wasn’t surprised Flores showed no nerves on the final shot.
“I’ve never seen Katyn nervous on the basketball court,” Poindexter said.
“If we are going to have a layup to win it, we are going to want her to shoot it.”
The wild finish capped a chaotic, physical contest which featured two distinctly different halves.
The Riders led 15-6 at halftime, utilizing a deep bench and aggressive defense to force 13 turnovers and limit the Wolves to 2 of 23 shooting.
“Team-wide, all 11 players were part of holding them to six points in the first half,” Poindexter said.
Boe said she had a feeling a Black Hills’ comeback was coming.
“We knew they were going to come back, six points at halftime is definitely not normal for them. They average 59 points a game. So limiting them to six was a definite wow.”
“We knew they were going to make shots, but we just stuck in there long enough to have the last chance.”
The Wolves upped the tempo after halftime, putting on a full-court man press defensively and attacking the rim on offense.
Port Angeles’ tallest player, Nizhoni Wheeler, picked up two quick fouls, sending a vital part of the Riders’ press break to the bench for much of the third.
Still, Port Angeles held Black Hills back, as a big 3-pointer and two free throws from Haley Baxley gave the Riders a 28-22 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Baxley tied with Emily Johnson for the team high in points with nine.
“Her 2 of 4 shooting from 3-point territory, plus her 3 of 4 free-throw line performance was critical for us,” Poindexter said.
Black Hills earned its first lead of the game, 32-31, with 1:48 to go.
Johnson nabbed two of her five steals for Port Angeles on back-to-back possessions and was fouled on a layup attempt after her second steal with 59.5 seconds left.
“I think Emily Johnson played her best game as a Roughrider tonight,” Poindexter said.
“She’s really one of the best defensive players I’ve ever coached.”
The foul call on Johnson was too much for Wolves coach Tanya Greenfield, who was whistled for a technical foul — gifting the Riders four foul shots and possession.
Johnson hit one free throw and Wheeler made two, and Port Angeles gained a 35-32 advantage.
Black Hills tied the score on baskets by Emma Duff and Kayley Moloney, the last coming inside with eight seconds left to set up Flores’ game-winner.
“It’s not a big game in the standings, but it’s a measurement game,” Poindexter said.
“They knew we went up to Anacortes and got dumped by 28 in another nonleague game against a tough opponent, so this was good for us.”
Flores’ last-second shot secured a senior night win for Baxley, Johnson and Boe.
It may not be the last time the trio plays on their home court, though. If Port Angeles finishes in first or second in Olympic League 2A, it will host a district playoff game Thursday, Feb. 11.
The Riders (7-1, 14-2) are in sole possession of first place ahead of Olympic (7-2, 11-5).
Port Angeles visits North Kitsap (6-3, 9-7) on Tuesday.
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
