PORT ANGELES — Youth is being served on basketball courts across the North Olympic Peninsula this season as sophomores on multiple teams take steps toward starring roles for their respective teams.
Second-place Sequim’s (9-2, 14-2) success has been aided by the growth of sophomore standout Jericho Julmist, the younger brother of former Wolves’ girls standouts Jelissa and Jayla.
Sequim plays its best when it can play a suffocating defensive style, and Julmist fits that to a T while also developing into the team’s go-to scorer.
He’s had huge offensive nights, including scoring 31 points on 14 made field goals in a 28-point win over North Mason, 27 points as the Wolves excised some demons with a win over North Kitsap and 20 points in a win over Fife.
“Jericho is an all-around player,” Sequim coach Craig Brooks said. “One of our most talented players because he puts in the work, spending hours in the gym working on his game. He broke his right hand this summer and used and developed his off hand.”
Hope gets going
Port Angeles sophomore post Brock Hope’s growth has impressed head coach Kasey Ulin in his first season on the varsity.
Ulin knew the 6-foot-9 Hope’s size advantage could turn him into a double-double machine for the Riders, but he’s showing off his skills all over the floor.
In Port Angeles’ big comeback win over North Kitsap on Tuesday, Hope had 15 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. He’s had other games in which he impacted the matchup inside, including a seven-block game, and Hope’s assist totals are eye-opening for a player of his size.
“His improvement, it’s ahead of where I expected him to be,” Ulin said. “He’s farther along in his development faster than I thought. And he’s going to be one of the best big men in the state going forward.”
Rowley ready
Forks sophomore Titus Rowley has turned a longtime Spartan weakness into a strength this season alongside senior Brody Lausche.
Lacking true post players for a number of seasons, Rowley’s 6-foot-2 frame is getting the job done on the glass and as leading scorer, essentially a walking double-double for the Pacific League champions.
No Dilley-dallying
The trend isn’t limited to boys basketball. Forks’ 6-foot-1 sophomore Avery Dilley has shown flashes of her potential in just her third season of organized basketball.
Dilley has posted a number of double-doubles for the Spartans this season, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, seven-steal performance, and she hit the game-clinching free throws with 17 seconds left in a road win over Raymond-South Bend.
“She’s been such a contributor for us, especially down the stretch,” coach David Hurn said. “She’s raw, but she’s picking it up quickly. Avery is the most-talked-about player from parents and fans.
“And it’s been rewarding to watch her develop her drop step, her step through, up-and-under and continue to work at it so that [playing the game] becomes an instinct. To watch her and the others take these steps in hoops and life as a coach, there’s really nothing better.”
Girls Basketball Forks 79, North Beach 13
OCEAN SHORES — The Spartans spread things around in a road blowout of the Hyaks.
“You never know what the energy level will be [against an overmatched opponent] and they came out fired up and ready to play,” Hurn said. “We had 26 assists on 35 made baskets, so we shared the ball and helped each other out.
“They had fun in this one. It was a rainy, gloomy trip down, and we came out and played hard and the girls wanted to get better and took advantage.”
Hurn said Bailey Johnson had a standout game with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, four steals and no turnovers in just 16 minutes of action.
Forks 79, North Beach 13
Forks 30 23 17 19 — 79
North Beach 2 2 5 4 — 13
Forks (79) — Johnson 27, Rondeau 15, Gaydeski 10, Salazar 8, Dilley 6, Peters 6, Neel 4, Woody 3.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
