TACOMA — Don’t bet against these underdogs.
The Port Angeles Roughriders, who have barely had a taste of state since 2001, beat perennial 2A girls basketball state champion River Ridge 41-38 in a winner-to-state, loser-out regional contest Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School.
The 10th-ranked Hawks of Lacey were third in state last year and had won the state title in three of the past five years.
The Riders, meanwhile, missed the cut for the eight-team state tournament last year and last was at state in 2001 where they claimed fifth place at the 4A level.
But the Riders (18-7) have a shot for a trophy in 2012 as they took a big lead in the first half against River Ridge (17-8) and then held on for their lives in the fourth quarter after the Hawks rallied and took the lead for a short time.
“We led the entire game until right at the end,” Port Angeles coach Michael Poindexter, who was recently voted the Olympic League’s coach of the year, said.
The teams were tied 8-8 after one quarter but the Riders took what seemed like a commanding 25-16 lead at halftime and added a point advantage, 35-25, going into the final period.
But the Hawks rallied to take a 38-37 lead late in the game but wouldn’t score again.
“[The action] went back-and-forth for a while with neither team scoring,” Poindexter said.
But then junior guard Macy Walker took over, swishing in a 3-pointer for a 40-38 Port Angeles lead and a little later sinking a free throw after being fouled for the game’s final margin.
Walker scored four of the Riders’ six points in the fourth quarter while Mariah Frazier tallied the other two points.
“Macy had an outstanding game,” Poindexter said. “She played mentally mature the whole game.”
Walker and sophomore guard Krista Johnson shared team-scoring honors with nine points each.
Johnson, a second-team all-leaguer, scored all her points in the first half while Walker saved all of her points for the second half.
Johnson hit three 3-pointers in the first half to help the Riders get the nine-point lead at the break.
Stout defense was the key for the Riders, who on paper weren’t as fast as the Hawks.
That defense started with Kathryn Moseley, an all-league honorable mention, who had the tough task of guarding Kyahri Adams, a quick and penetrating point guard.
“Kathryn was solid defensively,” Poindexter said.
“She held Adams to eight points and frustrated her all night.”
Senior Kiah Jones, the Olympic League’s MVP, had another strong all-around game, according to her coach.
“Kiah was steady and calm the whole game,” Poindexter said.
Jones was a good influence on the rest of the team, he added.
Frazier, meanwhile, had the tough task of guarding center Rebecca Stevenson, one of the top scorers for the Hawks.
Frazier gave away five to six inches to Stevenson but still held the scoring phenom in check. Stevenson ended up with just 10 points.
“Mariah played phenomenal defense,” Poindexter said.
“Mariah played constant and inspired.”
Jones’ little sister, 5-11 sophomore center Bailee, came off the bench to be part of the Riders’ solid defense. She took over defending Stevenson when Frazier was taking a breather.
“Bailee came in and did a good job on the boards,” Poindexter said.
The Hawks’ top scorer was Necy Wade, the fastest 2A player in state with a 100-meter sprint title to her credit.
She sank a game-high 14 points.
The Riders now will play in the 2A state championships, set for Thursday through Saturday at Yakima Valley SunDome.
They battle Lynden in the first round at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
2A Regionals
Port Angeles 41, River Ridge 38
River Ridge 8 8 9 13— 38
Port Angeles 8 17 10 6— 41
Individual scoring
River Ridge (38)
Wade 14, Stevenson 10, Baker 4, Adams 8, Evans 2.
Port Angeles (41)
Johnson 9, Walker 9, K. Jones 7, Frazier 7, Northern 3, Rodocker 2, Moseley 4.
