STATE BASKETBALL: Wolves worn down in overtime loss to White River

YAKIMA —Missed shots, from the field and the free-throw line, plus turnovers and questionable officiating decisions all held down the Sequim Wolves in a 44-37 overtime loss to White River in the Class 2A state quarterfinals.

Thursday night’s defeat sent the Wolves (21-4) into a loser-out matchup with Tumwater today at 2 p.m. for the right to play in the fourth/sixth-place contest Saturday.

“The girls played hard tonight but couldn’t get the ball in the basket,” coach Joclin Julmist said. “We struggled from the line going 8 for 27 and had 21 turnovers. The defense was good, but we just couldn’t make baskets.”

This was about as even a contest as one would find — neither team shot the ball well, with Sequim going 14 for 54 (26-percent) and White River 14 of 53 (26-percent). And both teams committed 21 turnovers.

The difference may have been some hard to grasp foul calls on Wolves’ leading scorer Jolene Vaara in the second half.

Vaara was tabbed for an offensive foul on a post move inside, her third, midway through the third quarter.

White River grew its halftime lead from 23-20 to 30-23 in the third, before Sequim tied the contest up at 30-apiece on a Taryn Johnson 3-pointer and free throws by Hannah Bates and Vaara.

With the momentum on the side of the Wolves, Vaara deflected the ball to Bates on an early possession in the fourth quarter and ran the floor, receiving a good pass up the court from Bates and going for a layup attempt while being fouled by White River’s Ella Klemkow.

But Vaara was whistled for a technical foul, also her fourth personal foul, for poking the ball out of Klemkow’s hands on her walk to the free throw line.

Officials have the flexibility to call technical fouls in these situations for not returning the ball to an official in a timely manner, or to provide a warning. No warning had been given to Sequim prior to Vaara’s poke.

Unfortunately for the Wolves, that play would have consequences as Vaara would foul out with 3:36 remaining. She left the game with a game-high 14 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

“Jolene was good attacking the basket and then she fouled out halfway through the fourth quarter,” Julmist said.

Sequim fought to stay in the contest, holding the Hornets to just one free throw the rest of regulation and tying the game on a Dani Herman freebie with 2:16 to play.

The Wolves weathered two 3-point misses by White River in the final minute and did get a look at a potential game-winner on a long Johnson jump shot that rimmed off with 22 seconds to play.

Overtime was all White River, as the Hornets depth and fresher legs [White River had a bye Wednesday] wore down Sequim.

Jelissa Julmist had five points, 15 rebounds and two blocks.

“Jelissa struggled tonight, she faced double and triple teams,” Julmist said.

“Hannah did a great job running the show. Taryn was good on the defensive side. Dani did a great job on the boards [9 rebounds]. Sammie [Bacon] was good on the boards [7 rebounds]. Tough loss, they were right there.”