TACOMA — The Port Angeles girls basketball team had a lead at halftime and was still close at the end of three quarters, but a six-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter was the Roughriders’ undoing in a 48-41 loser-out 2A regional game against West Valley of Spokane.
Saturday’s loss ended the Riders’ season with a record of 17-8.
Coach Michael Poindexter said fouls and free-throw attempts were crucial in this game.
“[West Valley] had a 10-point advantage there. Field goals — number and percentage — offensive rebounds, and turnovers were virtually even,” Poindexter said.
“The majority of the Eagles’ free throws came in the fourth quarter, where they were 9-for-17 from the line. We had a couple of players not feeling well, and late-game fatigue and frustration took its toll as well as we fouled shooters both inside and outside, as well as in the open court,” he said.
The Riders got off to a good start, getting up on West Valley 21-12 with 3:30 left in the first half as Paige Mason, Kennedy Rognlien and Izzy Felton all hit 3-pointers. The Riders also kept Eagles’ star player Chloe DeHaro in check through the first 12 minutes of the game. However, DeHaro finally shook loose, scoring the final nine points of the half for West Valley, including a 40-foot shot at the first-half buzzer to make the score 23-21 for Port Angeles at the break. DeHaro finished the half with 16 points.
The Riders had a couple of long scoring droughts in the second half as they were forced to take a lot of 3-pointers as West Valley packed its defense into the key with tall players. The first came early in the third quarter as West Valley opened up a 35-28 lead.
“The third quarter saw the Eagles slowly but steadily get the lead, partially due to our hitting only 4 of 18 field-goal attempts in the quarter,” Poindexter said.
“We had trouble attacking the West Valley’s tall and physical zone inside and tended to settle for 3-point attempts — we were only 1-for-8 in the quarter for 3-pointers.”
Port Angeles got right back in the game, scoring the final four points of the quarter on a Teanna Clark basket and a shot by Lindsay Smith right at the buzzer to make the score 35-32 entering the fourth.
The Roughriders only scored two points in the first six minutes of the fourth as West Valley opened up a 44-34 lead. Port Angeles made one last run with Clark hitting a clutch 3-pointer with 1:44 left to make it 44-37. After a West Valley turnover, Mason hit a basket and Clark made a 2-pointer as the Riders clung to hope, down 46-41 with 16 seconds left. DeHaro was able to make a couple of free throws at that point to make it a three-possession game and seal with win. She finished with 27 points.
Clark led the team with 12 while Mason, a senior playing her final game, scored nine to go along with seven rebounds. Felton, another one of Port Angeles’ seniors, scored seven. Lexie Smith had 10 rebounds and Lindsay Smith six points and four assists.
“Izzy Felton and Paige Mason … were outstanding senior leaders for us this season who played with tremendous effort and passion in helping us win the Olympic League title,” Poindexter said.
The team is bringing back plenty of firepower for next year, particularly with Clark and the Smith sisters, Lexie and Lindsay, returning.
West Valley 48, Port Angeles 41
PA 9 14 9 9 — 41
WV 10 11 14 13 — 48
Port Angeles (48) — Clark 12, Mason 9, Felton 7, Lindsay Smith 6, Rognlien 3, Lexie Smith 2, Moses 2.
