A young and inexperienced team found themselves on the wrong end of a rout in a hostile environment last week.
A balanced and tenacious Port Angeles squad dominated the first half and cruised to a 44-17 win over visiting Sequim on Dec. 13.
Sparked by a rowdy student section, the Roughriders shut out Sequim 21-0 in the first two quarters.
“They came out in a 1-1-3 zone, something we’re not used to seeing,” Sequim coach Larry Brown said. “Playing against a younger crew, that’s what you do. It was a great move. It frustrated us.”
The Wolves (2-3), behind Hope Glasser’s eight points, showed some life in the second half. Melissa Porter had four points. Kalli Wiker had three points and six rebounds, and Jayla Julmist chipped in five rebounds and three steals in the loss.
It was Glasser’s 3-pointer at 6:18 remaining in the third quarter that ended Sequim’s scoreless streak that lasted 17 minutes and 42 seconds.
Julmist followed with a steal and basket that closed the gap to 21-5, but Port Angeles responded with a 10-0 run the seal the victory.
Port Angeles got a balanced attack all around, with Emilia Long leading the team with 12 points and five of the host team’s 18 steals.
Natalie Steinman had four points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Riders, while Devin Edwards added eight rebounds.
While Port Angeles struggled from the field — the Riders shot 17-of-48 (35 percent) — their defense was they key. The Roughriders held Sequim to 0-for-16 shooting and 19 turnovers in the first half.
The Wolves, who see four freshmen and two sophomores see ample playing time, shot just 6-of-35 for the game and committed 35 turnovers.
“We’re getting used to the speed of the game,” Brown said. “That’s a tough game for the girls to adjust to. They have to take this game and improve.”
After winning their first two games, Sequim has now dropped three consecutive contests.
Sequim gets a split at Seaside tourney
A tournament swing through Seaside, Ore., got cut short thanks to a scheduling error, but the Wolves (3-4) made the most of it with a 57-32 win over the Sisters (Ore.) Outlaws in the tourney consolation bracket on Dec. 15.
Sequim led 29-17 by halftime and dominated the rest of the way, holding Sisters to just six points in each of the second and third quarters.
The girls played very tough and set the tempo of the game very early,” Brown said. “Once they figured out the offensive sets of Sisters they forced them into turnover after turnover.”
Glasser led the team with 21 ponts, 15 of those coming in the second half.
Porter had 11 points and Abby Schroeder chipped in with nine points.
Sequim then dropped a 40-33 decision to Cottage Grove on Dec. 16, despite sprited play by Bobbi Sparks that helped Sequim go from 15 points down in the first half to a small lead heading into the fourth quarter. Sparks had 10 points to lead Sequim, while Porter chipped in with nine points.
Neah Bay upends Sequim at home
On Dec. 12, Sequim’s girls had its hands full with one of the top small schools in Washington state.
Neah Bay, the No. 1-ranked 1B girls’ team in the state’s first RPI rankings, showed off their rather young talent in a 59-49 win at Sequim.
With three freshmen starters in their lineup, the Red Devils went ahead three minutes into the game on a 3-point basket by freshman Ruth Moss and never relinquished the lead.
Pint-sized point guard Gina McCaulley scored 22 points to lead all scorers.
“She had an amazing game,” Brown said. “She pretty much single-handedly broke us down. Neah Bay is a young fast team that is aggressive going after the ball. They beat us to pretty much every 50-50 ball and those are just tough games to win.”
Sequim trailed 32-21 at halftime and the Red Devils’ lead grew to 38-24 midway through the third. But a 9-0 Wolves’ run, keyed by five points by sophomore Jessica Dietzman, pulled Sequim within five, down 38-33 with 1:30 to play in the third.
But Neah Bay closed out the third quarter with a long jumper by Moss and a layup basket with two seconds left for a 42-33 lead heading to the fourth.
McCaulley carried the load offensively for the Red Devils in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of her 22 points in the final frame on a variety of layups as Neah Bay held the Wolves at bay. Glasser warmed up for Sequim scoring 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter but McCaulley had the answers and the Wolves never came closer than seven points down the stretch.
“We were a little too one-dimensional with our offense at times in terms of looking inside,” Brown said. “But overall it’s a good game for us to play against that pressure.”
Michael Carman, sports reporter/columnist for the Olympic Peninsula News Group, contributed to this story. He can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sequim’s Abby Shroeder looks to score as the Wolves take on Port Angeles on Dec. 13. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim’s Hope Glasser, right, drives past Port Angeles defender Aeverie Politika for a basket in Sequim’s 44-17 loss to the host Roughriders on Dec. 13. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim’s Melissa Porter,left, passes to a teammate as Port Angeles’ Summer Olsen defends. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
