PORT ANGELES — Sequim’s Jolene Vaara was named both the Olympic 2A League most valuable player and defensive player of the year in girls’ basketball.
Vaara helped lead the Wolves to a 14-0 record in league, a 23-4 overall record, a second-place finish at the District 2/3 tournament and a fourth-place finish at the state 2A tournament.
Vaara was incredibly consistent offensively. Despite missing several games to a sprained ankle, she had 14 games during the season with at least 15 points. She had games of 29 against Bainbridge (Dec. 6), 26 against Bremerton (Dec. 8), 24 against Olympic (Jan. 5), 25 against North Mason (Jan. 24) and 20 against North Kitsap (Jan. 19) and Bremerton (Jan. 17).
Vaara is just a junior and is expected back to lead the Wolves next year.
Vaara was joined on the first team by her teammates Jelissa Julmist, who was a force in the post all year for the Wolves with numerous double-doubles in points and rebounds, and point guard Hannah Bates, who ran the offense and was considered the leader of the team.
Also on the first team was Port Angeles senior Anna Petty. Petty led the Roughriders in scoring at 11.8 points a game and helped Port Angeles finish second in the Olympic League and qualify for state regionals.
Making the second team was Port Angeles’ Lindsay Smith, just a freshman, and named to the honorable mention team were Port Angeles’ Paige Mason and Sequim’s Taryn Johnson.
Named for their sportsmanship were Port Angeles’ Piper Williams and Sequim’s Bates.
Boys All-League
Port Angeles’ Parker Nickerson and Isaiah Shamp made the first-team for the Olympic League. They were joined by Sequim’s Isaiah Moore Jr. Nickerson had some huge games for the Riders in his junior year, scoring as many as 42 points in a game. He also had games of 31, 27 and 25 during the season. Shamp was an inside force for the Roughriders, as was Moore for the Wolves.
Nickerson and Shamp will both be back next year for the Riders. Moore is a senior.
Named to the honorable mention team were Zack Thompson of Sequim and Tyler Hunter of Port Angeles.
Cited for their sportsmanship were Ezra Townsend of Port Angeles and Cole Smithson of Sequim.
The boys’ co-MVPs were North Kitsap teammates Harry Davies and Cade Orness. Davies was named the boys defensive player of the year.
Full All-Olympic teams
Girls
MVP, defensive player of the year — Jolene Vaara, Sequim
First team — Hannah Bates, Sequim; Jelissa Julmist, Sequim; Anna Petty, PA; Sophia Baugh, NK; Adrianne Tupolo, NM; Bella Ramirez, Bain.
Second team — Lindsay Smith, PA; Mailli Bode, Oly.; Jayla Moon, King.; Elsa Cajune, Bain.; Anyssa Megia, Brem.
Honorable mention — Paige Mason, PA; Taryn Johnson, Sequim; Ghadir Ramadan, Bain.; Tulip Carter, Brem.; Jade Sunnenberg, NK.
Sportsmanship — Piper Williams, PA; Hannah Bates, Sequim; Sierra Berry, Bain.; Promise Bell, Brem.; Taizah Franklin, King.; Jade Sunnenberg, NK; Adrianna Tupolo, NM; Mailli Bode, Oly.
Boys
Co-MVPs — Harry Davies, NK; Cade Orness, NK.
First team — Parker Nickerson, PA; Isaiah Shamp, PA; Isaiah Moore Jr., Seq.; Sam Nylund, Bain.; Dakota Standley, King.
Second team — Andrew Littrean, NM; Malakai Quinene, Oly.; Sam Tucker, Brem.; Noah David, Bain.; Mason Chmielewski, NK.
Honorable mention — Tyler Hunter, PA; Zack Thompson, Seq.; Jaden Bluitt, Oly.; Peyton Sprangers, Bain.; Ethan Gillespie, NK.
Sportsmanship — Ezra Townsend, PA; Cole Smithson, Seq.; Noah Davis, Bain.; Trevon Pietz, Brem.; Cash Hubbard, King.; Ethan Gillespie, NK; clay Averts, NM; Tristan Bluitt, Oly.
