PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys basketball team will play for a chance to move to the 2A regional tournament, hitting some clutch free throws and shots down the stretch in a tense, exciting 66-62 win over Franklin Pierce on Friday night.
Port Angeles will play Clover Park at 4:15 p.m. Saturday. The game can be viewed at www.nfhs.com.
Friday’s game featured some titanic swings in momentum and lots of lead changes with both teams going on big runs, especially in the second half. In the end, it came down to free throws as the Roughriders hit seven straight from the charity stripe in the final couple of minutes as the Cardinals simply refused to go away.
The Riders seemingly had control of the game at the end of the first half, finishing the second quarter on a 5-0 run to go into the break up 33-23.
The Cardinals came out in the second half fired up on defense, causing two quick turnovers and hitting some 3-point shots to go on a 14-0 run in only 2½ minutes.
When things were looking bleak for the Riders, they responded with an 18-8 run of their own to open up a 51-45 lead with 6:35 left in the game.
Port Angeles head coach Kasey Ulin said afterward that game was hard on the blood pressure.
“This time of year is so exciting,” he said “I was so proud of our guys for taking those punches. That third quarter couldn’t have gone worse. Basketball is a game of runs and we wanted to take that punch and counterpunch.”
Parker Nickerson had his usual big game, going for 27, but he had much more help Friday night than he did in a district playoff loss to Enumclaw. Tyler Hunter had 16 points, many of them coming on clutch shots and free throws down the stretch and also added a couple of big blocks and clutch rebounds.
Port Angeles’ Parker Nickerson, left, fends off the defense of Franklin Pierce’s Sayvaughn Soeum on Friday night in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Isaiah Shamp had a solid game in the paint, scoring 14 points and hitting several key buckets in the second half. Gus Halberg contributed seven points, including two huge free throws in the final 15 seconds.
Shamp said the team stuck together after the Cardinals’ 14-0 run to open the half.
“We didn’t start to get after each other,” he said. “We rode it out and stayed together the whole time.”
Shamp also said that after the loss to Enumclaw, the team wanted to help Nickerson out with the scoring.
“Everyone stepped up tonight,” he said. “In the end we played more connected offensively.”
“Parker was awesome tonight. He played at his own pace. Isaiah was much more physical inside,” Ulin said.
Final minutes
The shifts in momentum continued with the Cardinals hitting a pair of 3-pointers and going on an 8-0 run to retake a 53-51 lead with 4:15 left in the game.
With the game locked at 55-55 at the 2:40 mark, Hunter came through with a couple of clutch plays. He hit a basket and followed up with a 3-pointer. Then he was fouled while attempting another 3-pointer and hit three straight free throws to give the Riders a 63-57 lead with 1:39 left.
Franklin Pierce responded with a 3-pointer at 1:14 to make it 63-60. With 20 seconds left, Hunter had a huge rebound on a missed three-point attempt and got the ball to Halberg, who was quickly fouled with 14.6 seconds left.
Port Angeles’ Tyler Hunter pulls down a rebound over the head of teammate Parker Nickerson, left, and Franklin Pierce’s Simon Irving on Friday night at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
The Cardinals were red-hot all second half with their outside shooting, so the Riders badly needed Halberg’s free throws. He calmly hit them both for a 65-60 lead. Franklin Pierce responded with a quick drive by Mason Thomas, who led the Cardinals with 28 points and was their entire offense for the first half, to make it 65-62 with 5.8 seconds left.
Nickerson was fouled and he hit one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game and basically ice the win.
If the Riders win Saturday, they make regionals next week. This game will be played at Mount Tahoma High School. Clover Park beat Sequim 68-57 on Friday to eliminate the Wolves from the district tournament.
Port Angeles (14-9) is a No. 6 seed while Clover Park (12-8) is a No. 7 seed.
Port Angeles 66, Franklin Pierce 62
FP 12 11 20 19 — 62
PA 18 15 13 20 — 66
Franklin Pierce (62) — Thomas 28, Starkey 13, Coleman 11, Barbee 9, Collins 1.
Port Angeles (66) — Nickerson 27, Hunter 16, Shamp 14, Halberg 7, Dunning 2.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Gus Halberg, front, reaches for a loose ball in front of Franklin Pierce’s Sayvaughn Soeum on Friday night in Port Angeles.
Port Angeles’ Isaiah Shamp gets squeezed between the defense of Franklin Pierce’sAmar Coleman, left, and Jordan Disney on Friday at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Josiah Long brings the ball downcourt as Franklin Pierce’s Amaar Coleman keeps pace on Friday at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
