Olympic League standings

(as of Jan. 28)

Port Angeles 9-1 15-3

North Kitsap 8-2 11-7

Sequim 8-2 13-4

Kingston 5-5 9-9

Olympic 4-6 6-11

North Mason 1-9 8-10

Bremerton 1-10 2-15

A voracious Sequim defense turned a seesaw battle with North Kitsap on Jan. 25 into a 14-point win, putting the Wolves within striking distance of an Olympic League title heading in to the season’s final week.

Jessica Dietzman had 14 points and six steals while teammate Jayla Julmist had nine points and 15 rebounds, but it was a whole team effort that kept the host Vikings to just eight points in the second half.

“We played hard all four quarters and focused on our defense every possession,” Sequim coach Linsay Rapelje said. “North Kitsap is a great team, so I’m very proud of our girls for holding them to 27 points.”

Sequim held slim leads of 10-9 after one quarter and 21-19 at halftime before wearing down the Vikings in the second half.

Maddie Pruden led North Kitsap with eight points.

The win moves the Wolves (8-2 in Olympic League play, 13-4 overall heading into this week) into a tie with North Kitsap and one game back of Port Angeles.

Sequim was scheduled to play at Olympic on Jan. 29.

The Wolves cap the regular season with a varsity doubleheader at home against Port Angeles on Jan. 31.

Sequim opens the West Central District tourney on either Feb. 7 or Feb. 9 at Wilson or Curtis High School in Tacoma. The top six teams from the 16-team tourney advance to the regional round of the class 2A state tournament.

Taking down Lakewood

Sequim started last week with a romp over struggling non-league foe Lakewood on Jan. 22.

Freshman Hannah Wagner paced the team with 14 points as Sequim routed the Cougars from Arlington 77-39, out-scoring their visitors 49-19 by halftime.

Melissa Porter had 13 points and eight rebounds, Kalli Wiker had 11 points and Julmist added eight points and 18 rebounds.

“We played very well as a team this game,” Rapelje said. “The girls set personal goals to work on new skills, and they were focused on those goals.”

Rapelje praised the Sequim defense which saw Dietzman nab a team-high six steals while Glasser, Wagner, Bobbi Sparks and Abby Schroeder grab four apiece.

“Overall, the girls played hard all four quarters, and that’s all I can ever ask of them,” Rapelje said.

Malia Ryden led Lakewood with 13 points.