PORT ANGELES — An early tie-up, a battle for the basketball between Port Angeles sophomore Anna Petty and North Kitsap sophomore Ayanna Selembo, characterized the entire contest — a 59-17 Roughriders’ win that sent Port Angeles to the Olympic League Championship game Wednesday night against Sequim.
Petty wouldn’t stop pulling at the basketball as Selembo appeared confused at why exactly Petty wouldn’t back down. And the scene repeated itself a number of times with different Riders involved in similar scraps — Millie Long, Jaida Wood and Camille Stensgard never giving an inch — even with the outcome completely in hand.
“No matter who we are playing if it’s a loose ball we want to get it,” Wood said. “We don’t want to give up anything even if it’s against a team we are 40-pointing [state rules stipulate a running clock with a 40-point lead].”
The difference was drive. Port Angeles had all of the vim and vigor, the Vikings … they were vanquished before the game even reached halftime.
“They played so well against us in the first half down there [last Thursday] and we went on that run and kind of broke them, I think,” Riders coach Michael Poindexter said, referencing an 11-0 run that broke open what was a 21-15 Port Angeles lead in the final two minutes of the Riders’ 68-29 win last week.
Poindexter did say that North Kitsap isn’t what they could be this season.
“They are friendly rivals and they are missing three kids who could be starters, their post player went down with an ankle injury, the point guard got hurt playing soccer and their second-best shooter is playing club volleyball,” Poindexter said. “They aren’t the team on the floor that we predicted they would be [coming into the season].”
Port Angeles led 23-0 after one quarter and 27-0 before former Chimacum standout Mia McNair put the Vikings on the board 11:41 into the 32-minute game. McNair had seven points, all of them at the free-throw line. The Riders limited North Kitsap to just three made field goals in the game.
PA up 6-0 on this Long layup pic.twitter.com/BNqyZBnk34
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) June 8, 2021
“Our depth is so much greater and both of our defenses that we ran early were effective,” Poindexter said.
Port Angeles 23, North Kitsap girls 0 end 1. Eve Burke here on the Jaida Wood assist. #wabkbscores pic.twitter.com/0TGwol2OTc
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) June 8, 2021
Wood had seven of her 14 points in the first quarter. She had a superb pass to Eve Burke inside for a layup as Burke also got off to a strong start, scoring eight of her game-high 15 in the first quarter.
“This year we started cherishing the ball more,” Wood said. “At practice we have worked so hard on making the extra pass to get an open shot. We don’t care about scoring, we just want to get the ball in the hoop. That’s something we took from last season, that our passing can win us games.”
Burke also dominated the boards against the Vikings on both ends of the floor, grabbing 10 in the game, seven offensive.
“She’s not tall,” Poindexter said of the 5-foot-7 Burke. “She has good leaping ability and she positions herself so well and has such timing.”
Burke’s work stood out to Wood.
“Eve Burke did a crazy good job on the boards. She always does,” Wood said.
Wood also praised Petty for her wasp-at-a-barbecue presence, buzzing in your face and ready to sting.
“Anna was everywhere tonight,” Wood said. “I’m so impressed with Anna this year, she has grown so much and she’s only a sophomore. She’s guarding their best player [McNair] and shut her down tonight. She’s awesome to watch.”
Poindexter agreed and said Petty has done a great job for the team all season long.
“She’ll get the start against Sequim,” Poindexter said. “We’ve been rotating that spot the last few games and Anna will be the fifth starter tomorrow [Wednesday] night.
Stensgard splashes from 3. PA up 30-2. pic.twitter.com/KEyFXt8BGU
— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) June 8, 2021
Port Angeles (14-0) will face rival Sequim (in the Olympic League Championship game at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. The Riders and Wolves were tied at 45-apiece entering the fourth quarter in a game Port Angeles won 67-58 at Sequim on May 12.
“Both teams should be ready and are looking forward to it,” Poindexter said.
Port Angeles 59, North Kitsap 17
PA 23 11 17 8 — 59
NK 0 2 11 4 — 17
Port Angeles (59) — Burke 15, Wood 14, Long 10, Petty 8, Stensgard 5, Shamp 3, Sprague 2, Gedelman 2, Larson, Brenkman, McGoff.
North Kitsap (17) — McNair 7, Beers 3, Wetzsteon 2, Selembo 2, Reed 2, Ingalsbe 1.
Port Angeles 59, North Kitsap 17
PA 23 11 17 8 — 59
NK 0 2 11 4 — 17
Port Angeles (59) — Burke 15, Wood 14, Long 10, Petty 8, Stensgard 5, Shamp 3, Sprague 2, Gedelman 2, Larson, Brenkman, McGoff.
North Kitsap (17) — McNair 7, Beers 3, Wetzsteon 2, Selembo 2, Reed 2, Ingalsbe 1.
