FORKS — The Forks basketball boys got off to a slow start in their District 4 Tournament opener against Seton Catholic, falling behind 18-2 right out of the gate.
The Spartans played the Cougars even for the rest of Friday’s game, but it wasn’t enough as Forks lost 66-48.
“The rest of the game we were pretty competitive,” said coach Rick Gooding.
Gooding said Forks’ Oscar Gonzalez was injured and the Spartans were forced to start four juniors and a sophomore.
Forks is still alive, but the Spartans are in the consolation bracket of the tournament, with all four Evergreen 1A teams in the tourney — Forks, Montesano, Hoquiam and Elma — losing to Trico 1A teams. The Spartans will next play Hoquiam in a loser-out game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Montesano High School.
Gooding said Seton Catholic, a third-place team out of the Trico, was a little lengthier than Forks and did a good job of responding with clutch baskets whenever the Spartans would make a run, trying to cut into that opening 16-point deficit. He said the Cougars also played a tough man-on-man defense most of the game.
The Spartans were led by Logan Olson with 14, bouncing back from a rough outing in his previous game. Trey Baysinger also had 13.
The Forks kids are fired up to remain alive in the playoffs, Gooding said.
“There’s no sulking over the loss. You get a second life,” Gooding said. “The kids are excited [to play Hoquiam again].”
The Spartans (4-4, 13-8) split with Hoquiam (4-4, 8-13) this year, beating the Grizzlies 71-57 on Jan. 21 and losing a heartbreaker 66-59 on Feb. 7. In that second matchup, Forks actually had a 15-point lead at one point, but was undone by a Hoquiam 18-0 run.
“It’s going to be a fast, energetic, high-paced game,” Gooding said.
If Forks loses Tuesday, the Spartans’ season ends, if they win, they play again on Thursday against the loser of La Center and Stevenson.
Neah Bay 56, Chief Kitsap 47
NEAH BAY — The Neah Bay boys got 21 points from Captain Claplanhoo and wrapped up their regular season with a 56-47 win over Chief Kitsap.
Claplanhoo hit four 3-pointers. Jaxson Halttunen scored 12 and grabbed seven rebounds while dishing out eight assists. Tobias Croy had seven points and six rebounds.
Neah Bay finished its regular season 6-3 in league (7-12 overall), qualifying for the Tri-District 1B tournament. The Red Devils’ opening game was Saturday against Lopez after press deadline. If Neah Bay won that game, the Red Devils’ next game would be Tuesday against Rainier Christian.
Neah Bay 56, Chief Kitsap 47
Neah Bay 12 13 16 15 — 56
Chief Kitsap 11 12 12 12 — 47
Neah Bay (56) — Claplanhoo 21, Halttunen 12, Croy 7, Martinez 6, Carrick 4, Lovik 2, Chambers 2, Horejsi 2.
Chief Kitsap (47) — Andrews 17, Marquez 8, Finkbonner 6, Bagley 5, Sipai 3, Old Coyote 3, C. Wion-Rathbun 2, A. Wion-Rathbun 1.
Girls Basketball Fife 61, Sequim 49
FIFE — A tough night from the floor against a strong Spartans squad was too much for the Wolves to overcome Friday night. Sequim (16-6) will have to earn a state regional berth the hard way — through the consolation portion of the district tournament bracket.
“We struggled to finish tonight and Fife did not,” Sequim coach Linsay Rapelje said. “We had a lot of great opportunities and ran our offense well, but our shots just would not fall.
“Jessica Dietzman played well for us on offense leading us with 17 points and good defense and Hannah Bates was intense on defense as well. We played hard the whole game and closed the gap but ran out of time.”
Jayla Julmist impacted the game with 22 rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists — but was limited to four points for the Wolves.
Hope Glasser scored nine points with eight rebounds and four steals.
Fife 61, Sequim 49
Sequim 9 12 8 20— 49
Fife 16 18 13 14— 61
Sequim (49) — Dietzman 17, Glasser 9, Porter 6, Wiker 5, Julmist 4, Raney 4, Bates 4.
Fife (61) — Hunter 21, Hernandez 17, Thomas 8, Nixon 6, Helsel 6, Wise 5, Kanges 2, Herrera 2.
Bellevue Christian 52, Port Townsend 36
BELLEVUE — The Redhawks’ strong start fell by the wayside in a loser-out Class 1A West Central District pigtail playoff on Thursday.
“We had a great first quarter and were up 15-11, which is big for us as we often start slowly,” Port Townsend coach Lorraine Rimson said.
“Unfortunately, some foul trouble and strong play by their point guard Rylee Reese derailed us. She was physical and strong.”
Reese scored eight of her 31 points in the second quarter and the Vikings shut out the Redhawks 14-0 to take a 25-15 lead.
“We were better in the second half, but not enough,” Rimson said. “We definitely missed Izzy [Hammett-out with a concussion], but our girls stepped up.
“SoSo [Johnston] and Gina [Brown] were steady and strong and scored well. Katie Ballard and Mackenzie Lake were also big contributors even if it doesn’t show in the scorebook.
“Today is a bit of a sad day, but we are already thinking about how to improve over the summer and get ready for next year.”
The Redhawks wrapped their first season under Rimson with a 7-14 record.
Bellevue Christian 52, Port Townsend 36
Port Townsend 15 0 11 10— 36
Bellevue Chr. 11 14 11 10— 52
Port Townsend (36) — Johnston 14, Brown 13, Ballard 3, Lake 2, Fountain 2, Asbell 2.
Bellevue Christian (52) — Reese 31, Fritch 8, DeJorge 6,Wyberga 3, Davis 2, Betts 2.
Neah Bay 63, Chief Kitsap 23
NEAH BAY — The Neah Bay girls completed their regular season with perfect record in league after a 63-23 romp over Chief Kitsap.
Laila Greene led Neah Bay with 15 points, while Ruth Moss scored 12. Allie Greene scored nine points and Paris Horejsi eight.
The Red Devils (9-0, 14-5) get a bye in the first round of the Tri-District 1B tournament. They begin postseason play Tuesday against the winner of Rainier Christian and Tulalip Heritage. That game will be held at 6 p.m. at Port Angeles High School.
Neah Bay 63, Chief Kitsap 23
Neah Bay 14 20 14 15 — 63
Chief Kitsap 9 2 8 4 — 23
Neah Bay (63) — Greene 15, Ruth Moss 12, A, Greene 9, Horejsi 8, Gagnon 6, Aguirre 5, Ryana Moss 4, Ray 3, Lovik 1.
Chief Kitsap (23) — Hill 7, Bayes 6, Buray 5, Old Coyote 3, Berg 2.
Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News Spartan Carter Windle (10) puts up a shot against Seton Catholic’s Griffin Young and Andrew Olson (33) Friday in Forks where the Cougars defeated Forks 66-48 in the 1A Southwest District Tournament.
