By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
CHIMACUM — Forks and Chimacum scrapped back and forth until the Spartans took a firm hold late and pulled away for a 43-32 win in the team’s girls basketball season opener.
“We definitely started settling down and executing,” Forks coach David Hurn said.
“We had trouble getting into our offense and staying in it. Once we started executing and playing in rhythm it worked for us. We missed a lot of easy shots, left a lot of points on the floor, putbacks and layups we usually make. I think the addrenaline of playing in the first game of the season was evident, but I’ll live with it, I guess.”
The Spartans were able to exploit their size advantage down low as 6-footer Chloe Leverington put in 17 points.
“Chloe had a really good game when we got the ball to her,” Hurn said.
“She dominated the boards with 20 rebounds and five blocks.
“Elli Kilmer had 14 rebounds, so our size helped out.”
Hurn also said Iesha Johnson had a really good game, playing tough defense on Chimacum’s Mia McNair who finished with a game-high 18 points.
Chimacum was without a couple of their starters (injuries and a mission trip), but Cowboys coach Trevor Huntingford was encouraged.
“I felt good overall about our performance,” he said. “We had to shift our defensive philosophy a little and I wasn’t sure how we would adapt, but I was really pleased and thought we did a solid job defensively.
“Where we got exploited some was in the post where size played a factor for sure on the boards and in some individual matchups with Leverington who had a big game for them.”
Chimacum also got into foul trouble late in the first half and fouls and fatigue hurt the Cowboys down the stretch.
“In the second half we played well again defensively and Mia hit a few 3s, [she had] four in the game, I believe], but even as we bounced back and took a small lead into the fourth we started to show some signs of fatigue and the foul trouble was now really a problem again and they ulitmately overtook us.”
The two teams will meet again in Forks on Dec. 18.
“I enjoy playing against that style,” Hurn said of Chimacum’s pressure defense. “I love to see that — especially in the first game of the season — a defense that will challenge you and push you around a bit.”
Forks (1-0) hosts Aberdeen tonight at 5:45 p.m.
Chimacum (0-1) hosts Bellevue Christian tonight at 6 p.m.
Forks 43, Chimacum 32
Forks 9 8 8 16— 43
Chimacum 6 7 15 3— 32
Forks (43) — Leverington 17, Peters 7, Johnson 5, Olson 5, Rowley 5, Kilmer 4, Horton.
Chimacum (32) — McNair 18, Nordberg 5, Yaley 5, Clark 4.
Port Angeles 56, Bainbridge 52
BAINBRIDGE — The Roughriders put on a full-court press defensively in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter and erased a five-point Spartans lead with a 15-6 run to beat Bainbridge in Port Angeles’ season opener.
It wasn’t as easy an ending as it sounds.
The Riders (1-0) got steals and scores from Madison Cooke and Bailee Larson to pull within one at 46-45, then withstood a 26-foot 3-pointer by Spartans junior guard Olivia Wikstrom.
Jaida Wood knocked down a long two-point basket and hit a 3-pointer to give Port Angeles a 50-49 advantage. Bainbridge reclaimed the lead with three free throws after a pair of Riders’ turnovers, but a Cooke steal and score tied the game with a little more than a minute to play at 52-all.
“Madi Cooke had her best game as a Roughrider,” Port Angeles coach Michael Poindexter said. “Obviously, the 25 points were nice, but she also rebounded well, helped handle Bainbridge’s press, and played outstanding defense.”
Port Angeles freshman Eve Burke scored the eventual game-winning bucket inside on a pass by Mikkiah Brady and Millie Long hit two free throws with 16 seconds left to provide the Riders with some cushion.
“[Hitting the free throws to go up four] was huge, given their team’s ability to hit from outside,” Poindexter said.
That ability showed in the early going, as Bainbridge hit five first-quarter 3s to go up 19-12.
A switch to man-to-man defense slowed the Spartans’ shooters — Bainbridge hit four 3s the remainder of the contest.
Cooke and Long guarded Wikstrom, who went for 29 points two days after hitting for 42 against Olympic.
“She and Millie Long shouldered most of the burden of guarding Wikstrom.”
Poindexter had praise for Wood and Burke as well.
“Jaida Wood had a good scoring night; her 14 points included four three-pointers. She also did a good job defensively and on the boards.
“Eve Burke, in her first game as a Roughrider, made solid contributions of scoring inside and playing a variety of roles well.”
The Riders visit Lynden today at 4:30 p.m.
Port Angeles 56, Bainbridge 52
Port Angeles 12 13 13 18— 56
Bainbridge 19 7 13 13— 52
Port Angeles (56) — Cooke 25, Wood 14, Burke 6, Noel 4, Long 2, Larson 2, Walker 2, Politika 1, Brady, Olsen, Stensgard.
Bainbridge (52) — Olivia Wikstrom 29, Grace Carson 13, Anna Kozlaski 8, Kendall Havill 2.
________
Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
