PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls basketball team played a complete game against North Kitsap, crushing a team that came into The Stable with a 5-1 record.
The Roughriders were solid on both defense and offense in a 53-28 victory for Port Angeles’ first win in league.
Port Angeles has been solid defensively all year, allowing just 37 points a game and yet to allow an opponent to score 50. Yet, the Riders came in to Tuesday’s game 1-3 because of struggles scoring themselves.
The Riders have been good defensively all season but have struggled with their shooting. Against North Kitsap, Port Angeles made 24 field goals, shooting 42 percent (24-for-57). Meanwhile, the Vikings made just 10 field goals and shot 23 percent.
“That’s what we are capable of doing,” said coach Michael Poindexter, referring to the dominance over North Kitsap, which came in to the game 3-0 in league.
“We were a little more patient against their defense. We did a great job on the offensive boards,” Poindexter said. “It was a team effort on the defense and a good complete game. We need that.”
Port Angeles had 15 offensive boards to North Kitsap’s nine.
Morgan Politika said that when it comes to defense, the Riders “just do our thing.”
“Our team just wants to keep getting better,” she said.
The Riders also had huge statistical advantages in turnovers, just 14 to North Kitsap’s 24, and offensive rebounds — 15 to North Kitsap’s nine.
On defense, “no one attacks our 1-3-1 [zone] as well as they do,” Poindexter said. He said that when the Vikings had some rhythm early, “we went to man-to-man to get them out of that rhythm.”
Poindexter said that while she didn’t score a lot of points, Port Angeles’ Becca Manson had an outstanding game defending North Kitsap’s Teegan DeVries, who finished with zero points.
The game was actually close at halftime, with the Riders clinging to a 24-18 lead at the break. But the Riders outscored the Vikings 28-10 in the second half to quickly salt the game away. In fact, Port Angeles allowed only 17 points over the final three quarters.
And that was done to a team that was 3-0 in the Olympic League.
The trio of Lindsay and Lexie Smith and Teanna Clark led the way for the Riders.
Lindsay Smith had a huge game, scoring 21 points to go with nine rebounds and three assists. Clark had a solid all-around game with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals. Lexie Smith had 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Manson added six rebounds and Mikkhia Stevens three steals.
Port Angeles (1-3, 2-3) continues its tough schedule, playing at a tournament over the holidays in Bellingham. The Riders will play a tough 1A team in Bellevue Christian (4-0) on Dec. 26.
Port Angeles 53, North Kitsap 28
NK 11 7 4 6 — 28
PA 16 8 16 12 — 53
Port Angeles (53) — Lindsay Smith 21, Clark 14, Lexie Smith 11, Stevens 4, Schmidt 2, Politika 1, Doherty, Manson, K. Moses.
Annie Wright 70, East Jefferson 40
PORT TOWNSEND — Despite 18 points from East Jefferson’s Penina Vailolo, Annie Wright beat the Rivals 70-40, primarily thanks to a fast start in the first half.
Annie Wright got up 47-22 before halftime.
Dylin Shockley scored eight for the Rivals, while Kay Botkin scored six.
East Jefferson (1-4) next plays its toughest Nisqually League opponent, Bellevue Christian (4-0) on the road Friday, then the Rivals are off until Jan. 2, when they host Sequim in Port Townsend.
Annie Wright 70, East Jefferson 40
AW 22 25 20 3 — 70
EJ 12 10 6 12 — 40
East Jefferson (40) — Vailolo 18, Shockley 8, Botkin 6, Harris 4, Plotner 4.
Sequim vs. Olympic, postponed
The Sequim boys and girls games scheduled Tuesday were postponed due to high winds and concerns that the Hood Canal Bridge would be closed. The games will be rescheduled.
