QUILCENE — The Class 2B Quilcene Rangers boys basketball team came out flat but ended up giving 1A Klahowya a run for its money in nonleague action Monday.
The bigger Olympic League Klahowya Eagles beat the Sea-Tac League Rangers 60-50.
The Rangers rallied for 35 points in the second half to make it interesting.
“We were a different team in the second half,” Quilcene coach Mark Thompson said. “That was what was neat about our effort.
“We were different than I have seen us play all year. It was two different games.”
The Rangers were more active, more physical and they hustled more in the second half, Thompson said.
“That’s the way we need to play all year long,” he said. “We don’t have the horses not to play that way.”
The Eagles were running away with the game in the first quarter, leading 25-4. The Klahowya coach put in substitutes in the second period but the score was still lopsided at 38-15 at halftime.
But Quilcene (1-1 in league and 2-5 overall) outscored the Eagles 35-22 in the second half to put a scare into the bigger school.
“Their coach wanted to use substitutes in the second half but we didn’t let him,” Thompson said. “It was starters against starters the entire second half.”
Jared Newman led the Rangers with 17 points while Pat Knox added 14.
Brandon Bancroft pulled down 12 rebounds and sank six points for Quilcene.
Knox also had a strong defensive game.
“Knox did a good job of boxing out in the second half, clearing a lane for someone else to get a rebound,” Thompson said.
The Rangers next play Dec. 29 against Jefferson County rival Chimacum.
Klahowya 60, Quilcene 50
Klahowya 25 13 11 11 — 60
Quilcene 4 11 13 22 — 50
Individual Scoring
Klahowya (60)
Smith 7, Harstead 3, Monet 12, Fagan 2, Davis 10, hartford 1, Holme 9, Neet 3, Rose 9, Jeffcoat 4.
Quilcene (50)
Scheier 3, Brackney 1, Newman 17, Bancroft 6, Gallaway 4, Davidson 5, Knox 14.
