JOYCE — With starters Atokena Abe, Molly McCoy and Kyla Wilson out with recent ankle injuries, the Clallam Bay girls basketball bench looked more like a hospital waiting room.
But the short-handed Bruins received a spark off the bench from Chelsey Ritter in a 39-23 North Olympic League win against Crescent on Wednesday.
Ritter scored 12 points to lead all scorers, with all her buckets coming inside against the taller, bigger Loggers in the win.
“She’s a sophomore and hasn’t had a ton of playing time this year,” Clallam Bay coach Katherine Winter said.
“So it was really good for her to come through off the bench.”
With players filling new positions, it took a little while for Clallam Bay to settle down, limit turnovers and pull past the pesky Loggers.
After committing nine first-quarter turnovers, the Bruins led Crescent 11-10.
The Loggers’ point guard Lauren Hartley was a big reason Crescent was hanging around, driving and getting to the rack for two early buckets.
“She handled the ball well for us and did well on her layups early on,” Loggers coach Brian Scott said.
Clallam Bay increased the pressure defensively in the second quarter, forcing seven turnovers from the Loggers, but couldn’t pull away, leading 20-17 at halftime.
“We really wanted to put a big emphasis on our press and try to start our offense off our press,” Winter said.
“Our defense improved there, but we were struggling to make shots.”
Low-scoring third
The offensive struggles continued for both sides in the third period.
Neither side could manage a made basket until Clallam Bay point guard Mariah LaChester scored with 3:35 to go in the third.
Crescent was held scoreless in the period and trailed 26-17 after three quarters.
“We started out real good but then we started missing those little bunnies,” Scott said.
“And I mean lots of them. We had chances but couldn’t make them.”
A defensive adjustment by the Bruins on Hartley played a large part in the Loggers’ offensive slowdown.
“They went to a box-and-one on her in the second half,” Scott said.
“They were denying her the ball and it held down our offense.”
Hartley finished with nine points.
Foul trouble also foiled Crescent’s attempt at a comeback.
“Second half, especially in the fourth quarter, we got in foul trouble and Lauren, Shannon [Williams] and Jade [Blazek], three of our starters, fouled out,” Scott said.
“I think overall we moved the ball really well but we just couldn’t finish.”
Ritter and Jeddie Herndon salted the game away for Clallam Bay in the fourth quarter.
Ritter had six of her 12 points, and Herndon added four of her 10 points for the Bruins.
The Loggers’ season ended with the loss.
Clallam Bay hosts Neah Bay today, and will play in a Tri-District play-in game sometime next week.
Clallam Bay 39, Crescent 23
Clallam Bay 11 9 6 13— 39
Crescent 10 7 0 6— 23
Individual scoring
Clallam Bay (39)
Ritter 12, Herndon 10, Erickson 9, LaChester 7, Signor 1.
Crescent (23)
Hartley 9, Holgerson 4, Blazek 4, Williams 4, Lester 2.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsualdailynews.com.
