RENTON — The Port Angeles boys basketball team got into a defensive battle at the Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational held at Renton High School, outplaying Sammamish for three quarters, but ultimately falling in the end 51-43.
The Roughriders outscored the Redhawks 21-19 in the first half, but Sammamish erupted for a 19-8 third quarter to take control of the game.
“We came out a little flat in the third. That was the difference in the game,” said Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin. “We controlled the game for three quarters.”
Ulin described it as a defensive contest similar to what one would see at a winner-to-state game at the district tournament. Tyler Hunter and Dallas Dunning, a couple of the Roughriders’ main players, were battling illness, he said.
Ulin also said the Riders settled for too many 3-point shots. They made six 3-pointers but took a whopping 28 shots from beyond the arc.
Senior-heavy Sammamish is typical of the kind of tough teams the Riders are playing this season outside of the Olympic 2A League. They played a couple of the best 1A teams in the state, including one that beat North Kitsap, in the SunDome Shootout over the holidays. Sammamish qualified for the 2A state tournament last year and came in to Monday’s game with a solid 8-4 record, including 6-1 in a tough KingCo League. They are ranked No. 17 in the state in Ratings Percentage Index. The Roughriders are ranked No. 21.
Bryant Hoch hit a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers in the first half and led the Riders with 12 points, while Parker Nickerson and Isaiah Shamp each scored 11.
The Roughriders (7-1, 9-5) have a very busy week. They played Tuesday against North Mason (0-8, 0-11) after press deadline. This was a team the Riders beat by 39 earlier in the season. Then they played Thursday at Olympic (3-5, 4-6) and have a huge home game at 3 p.m. Saturday against Renton, the top team in the KingCo League and the No. 3-ranked 2A team in the state with a perfect 12-0 record.
Sammamish 51, Port Angeles 43
PA 7 14 8 14 — 43
Samm. 8 11 19 13 — 51
Port Angeles (43) — Hoch 12, Nickerson 11, Shamp 11, Townsend 4, Hunter 3, Seera 2.
Girls basketball
Forks 64, Onalaska 28
FORKS — The Forks girls basketball team won its sixth straight game Monday, getting off to a fast start with a 39-10 lead at halftime over Onalaska. The Spartans went on to win 64-28.
Keira Johnson led the Spartans with 21, while Janessa Ramos had 10, Kadie Wood nine and Kyra Neel eight.
Coach David Hurn said he wasn’t sure how the Spartans would play since it was a holiday and they hadn’t practiced over the weekend. He said the team played well despite the short layoff.
“They came out fast. I was impressed with their effort,” Hurn said.
The nonleague victory begins a busy week for Forks (7-0, 10-3). The Spartans hosted South Bend (1-7, 1-12) Tuesday after press deadline in a Pacific 2B League game, then have to travel to Ilwaco on Thursday for a “very big” league game. Ilwaco (6-1, 12-2) is ranked No. 6 in the state in RPI, while Forks is ranked No. 7. The Spartans beat the Fishermen in Forks 74-63 back in December. That is Ilwaco’s only league loss.
“I’m sure they will be ready to return the favor,” Hurn said.
Forks 64, Onalaska 28
Ona. 6 4 12 6 — 28
Forks 20 19 14 11 — 64
Forks (64) — JK. Johnson 21, Ramos 10, Wood 9, Neel 8, B. Johnson 7, Gaydeski-St. John 4, Whorton 3, Wallerstedt 1, Dilley 1.
East Jefferson 37, Granite Falls 32
PORT TOWNSEND — The East Jefferson girls basketball team won its fourth game out of six with a 37-32 nonleague victory Monday over Granite Falls.
“It was a close, well-matched game,” said head coach Lorraine Rimson.
The Rivals were without Addy Asbell for the second straight game. Rimson said Asbell brings a lot of intensity to team. She said Kay Botkin and the Maddie Harris each responded with good games, while Abbie Liske had several blocked shots.
Alyssa Vandenberg led the Rivals with 12 points, while Harris scored 10.
Rimson said one thing she liked is that earlier this season, South Whidbey came on strong in a fourth quarter and East Jefferson wasn’t ready for it and lost the game.
“When Granite Falls kicked it up in the fourth quarter, that didn’t happen yesterday,” Rimson said.
The Rivals (4-4, 5-7) next host Cascade Christian (3-4, 4-7) in Port Townsend at 5 p.m. Thursday for an important Nisqually League game as the two teams are battling for a playoff spot. Cascade Christian beat East Jefferson 55-34 back in early December. Rimson said Asbell should be back.
