Boys basketball: Renton downs Sequim in district opener

A loss in the first round of the West Central District playoffs has Sequim’s season on the brink.

The Wolves (12-9), seeded No. 8 in the district tourney, mostly kept pace for two quarters with the Renton Indians before dropping a 71-45 decision in Renton on Feb. 6.

Sequim moves on to play the loser of the Feb. 13 Fife/Port Angeles district semifinal at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Wilson High School in Tacoma.

Sequim’s next game was originally slated to be played Feb. 12, but inclement weather has shortened the district tourney brackets. The Wolves will need to win their next two games in order to advance to the regional bracket of the state 2A tournament.

Against Renton, Sequim got 16 points from senior guard Nate Despain and 11 points from sophomore guard Erik Christiansen in the loss.

The Indians (17-6) led 12-10 after one quarter and 28-24 by halftime before out-scoring Sequim 43-21 in the second half.

Renton’s 1-2 punch of 6-2 senior guard/wings Damarco Williams (26 points, eight rebounds) and Vershan Jackson (10 points) proved to be too much.

That, and an off-night shooting for the Wolves (29.7 percent from the field) coupled with 21 turnovers spelled doom for the visiting Sequim sequim.

The Indians also took advantage of their physicality, getting to the free throw line 29 times, hitting 18. Sequim earned just three trips to the line (and missed each free throw).

Kyler Rollness and Blake Wiker had six points each for the Wolves.

Christiansen had a team-high seven rebounds while Riley Cowan and Keeshawn Whitney had six apiece. Cowan and Despain had three assists each.

Renton, champions of the South Puget Sound League’s 2A North Division, moves on to play top district seed Foss on Feb. 8.