PORT ANGELES — This time, there would be no miracle finish for the Port Angeles boys basketball team.
The last time Port Angeles and Sammamish played, back in the opening game of the year, the Roughriders had an amazing rally in the fourth quarter, coming back from a 13-point deficit thanks to an amazing 11-0 run in just 37 seconds.
On Tuesday night, Sammamish seemed prepared for the Roughriders’ explosiveness. The Redhawks shot lights out from outside, hitting 10 3-pointers, and got a measure of revenge with a 65-57 win in a bidistrict tournament game in Port Angeles.
The Riders are still alive in the postseason, but they must win two straight district games to qualify for state, beginning with a game in Port Angeles at 6 p.m. today against Steilacoom.
Port Angeles never let Sammamish get too far in front, as the Redhawks’ biggest lead was only 10 points, but the Roughriders couldn’t put together a big run like they did in on Nov. 29.
Every time the Riders did put together a mini-run, it seemed like Sammamish would hit a clutch basket or 3-pointer to pull back away.
The Riders’ last gasp came with 5:40 left in the game after Kason Albaugh hit a 3-pointer, Isaiah Shamp a 2-pointer inside and Albaugh a pair of free throws to cut a 51-41 Sammamish lead down to 52-48. The Redhawks responded with a bucket and two straight 3-pointers from Anthony Boddie to open the lead right back up to 60-50. The Riders never got closer than seven the rest of the game.
Coach Kasey Ulin said the Riders thrive when they can string together at least three defensive stops in a row. They were never able to do that against Sammamish.
“It wasn’t our night. We didn’t play well, we weren’t very sharp,” Ulin said. “When we can get multiple stops, that’s when we do well. We tried everything — full-court press, triangle, man-to-man. None of them seemed to get us over the jump.”
While the Redhawks were unconscious at times from outside, the Riders only hit three 3-pointers for the game. Sammamish was also effective on the boards, able to pick up crucial offensive boards on the long rebounds from the 3-pointers did that did miss.
Shamp had a good game for the Riders, unafraid to go right at Sammamish’s 6-foot-8 Barry Morrissette and pouring in 20 points on a variety of clever inside moves. Halberg also had a good game with 12 points, while Albaugh had a pair of 3-pointers for 12 points. Parker Nickerson scored nine.
Ulin said the Riders just need to move on from this game. “My message to them is our season isn’t over. We have the opportunity to play against Thursday. I’m really confident we’ll bounce back and earn a victory.”
The good news for Port Angeles is Steilacoom is a fairly low seed. Steilacoom (10-11) is a No. 12 seed in the tournament while Port Angeles (15-7) is a No. 4. Steilacoom made it to the second round with a 59-56 win Tuesday night over Highline.
If Port Angeles wins tonight, the Riders will play at 4 p.m. Saturday with a chance to earn a berth to state. That game will be played at Foster High School against either Enumclaw (14-8) or Foss (13-8).
Sammamish 65, Port Angeles 57
Samm. 17 13 17 18 — 65
PA 15 9 17 16 — 57
Port Angeles (57) — Shamp 20, Albaugh 12, Halberg 12, Nickerson 9, Dunning 4.
