PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles and its swarming defense achieved the rare feat of holding a team scoreless for an entire half as the Roughriders easily handled Sequim 44-17 in a Rainshadow Rumble rivalry girls basketball contest.
Both coaches agreed the scoreless half was something that can sometimes happen in basketball and that some of it was due to bad luck. Sequim came into the game 2-2 and averaging over 40 points a game, so the Wolves have shown the ability to score. But Sequim had several shots in that first half that just refused to go in, including a pair of 3-pointers by Hope Glasser that dropped halfway in and rattled out.
The Riders took a 21-0 lead into the half and ultimately the Wolves’ scoring drought lasted 17 minutes and 45 seconds as a Glasser 3-pointer finally stayed down with 6:15 left in the third quarter. The Wolves played much better in the second half, getting outscored just 23-17.
“We were very disciplined defensively,” said coach Michael Poindexter. “We were very disciplined and smart and had good vision in our zone. It was much better than last Friday night [against North Kitsap]. We didn’t overpursue, we didn’t gamble.”
PA stingy on defense
It’s not a complete fluke that the Riders held Sequim to 17 points as they have shown they’re going to be a tough team defensively. They have yet to give up 50 points in a game and came into Wednesday’s game allowing less than 38 points a game (now 33.6 points a game).
Sequim coach Larry Brown credited his kids for not giving up and improving in the second half.
“You just chalk that up to a terrible half,” Brown said.
He said he was actually surprised how fired up the Wolves were in the second half and was proud of the girls.
“It didn’t feel like a team that had been shut out. We played very tough, they gave their all for 32 minutes,” he said.
“This team loves basketball and they love each other. They play the sport for all the right reasons,” Brown said.
Sisters Emilia and Gracie Long had at least eight steals combined, jumping into passing lanes out of the Riders’ zone defense to create easy breakaway baskets and free throws.
While Poindexter was happy with the defense, he thought the Riders played all right offensively, but could have been better. “We still have work to do on the offensive end,” he said.
Emilia Long led the team with 12 points and four steals as a very balanced Riders attack had 10 different girls who scored. Glasser led the Wolves with eight points. Glasser and Wiker both hit 3-pointers for Sequim while Mikkiah Brady, Emilia Long, Aeverie Politika, Brennan Gray and Delaney Wenzl all hit treys for the Riders.
Port Angeles (1-1, 3-2) plays at Kingston at 7 p.m. Friday. The Buccaneers are undefeated in Olympic League 2A Division play at 2-0.
Sequim (1-1, 2-3) is off to a tournament in Seaside, Ore., on Friday. The Wolves then get a very long holiday break and do not play in league again until Jan. 3 at home against Kingston.
Port Angeles 44, Sequim 17
Sequim 0 0 7 10— 17
Port Angeles 7 14 10 13— 44
Sequim (17) — Glasser 8, Porter 4, Wiker 3, Julmist 2.
Port Angeles (44) — E. Long 12, Brady 5, G. Long 4, Steinman 4, Politika 4, Wood 4, Wenzl 3, Gray 3, Edwards 3, Cooke 2.
________
Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Jaida Wood, left, and Sequim’s Jayla Julmist vie for a rebound in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game at Port Angeles High School.
