So much for that offseason rust.

Sequim roared into the 2017-2018 season with a big win against an Olympic League rival on Dec. 6, knocking off the visiting North Mason Bulldogs, 57-36.

Sophomore duo Jessica Dietzman and Hope Glasser led the way for a young Wolves team that saw four freshmen get ample playing time.

Dietzman led the team with 16 points and five assists and added five rebounds, while Glasser had a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

“We started out pretty fast,” Dietzman said, pacing the Wolves to a 14-4 first quarter lead.

“It was a good confidence-building (game).”

See photos from the game here.

The Bulldogs, behind 12 points apiece from Sophia Green and Amber Johnson, drew within 25-21 by halftime, but a 10-1 spurt to start the third quarter helped the Wolves pull away.

Sequim held North Mason to shoot just 4-of-36 from the field in the second half, including a fourth quarter stretch when the Bulldogs missed 21 of 22 field goal attempts.

“We controlled the first and third quarters pretty good,” Sequim coach Larry Brown said. “They took care of the ball for the most part (but turnovers) is one area we still need to focus on.”

The teams combined for 52 turnovers, with Sequim committing 27 of those.

The early-season Olympic League match-up was a showcase of youth movements for both squads; Sequim and North Mason combined to put two seniors and two juniors along with 14 ninth- and 10th-graders on the court.

Sequim’s Bobbi Sparks, a junior point guard for the Wolves, said she was impressed with the Wolves’ quartet of freshmen.

“They weren’t nervous and we played really well together,” said Sparks, who had four points and three steals in the win.

Sparks was particularly impressed with freshman Jayla Julmist, a 5-10 forward who chipped in six points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.

“As a team we played together (tonight),” Brown said. “That’s one thing that’s important with the younger girls. Four freshmen saw action and every one of them is on the stat line in some category.”

SHS freshmen Abby Schroeder and Melissa Porter had six points each, and fellow frosh Kalli Wiker added three points, sinking a 3-pointer on her first shot.

Exchange student Pilar Aliseda added six rebounds off the bench.

While it was Sequim’s first game, North Mason came in 2-0 and all other teams in the Olympic League had at least two games under their belt.

Sequim splits with Coupeville, Bainbridge

Sequim’s girls basketball squad rounded out their week by splitting a pair of non-league match-ups, edging 1A host Coupeville 39-35 on Dec. 8, and falling at home to 3A Bainbridge 49-29 in a game that was closer than the score suggests.

Against Coupeville, Glasser led a balanced attack with 11 points while Julmist had eight and Wiker chipped in with seven.

Sequim led 9-6 after one quarter but Coupeville kept it close the remainder of the game.

“Coupeville played very aggressively and we fought off quite a few waves from them,” Brown said.

Lindsey Roberts led Coupeville with 11 points.

On Dec. 9, Bainbridge’s Spartans — led by Olivia Wikstrom’s 18 points — led by as much as 12 in the first half, but thanks to key 3-point shooting from Alisha Grasser Sequim closed the gap to just two points early in the third quarter.

The Wolves couldn’t hang on, however.

“Our shots went cold from there and we ended up being shut out in the fourth (quarter),” Brown said.

“Their defense was tough but we missed a lot of shots and couldn’t get to the foul line; at the same time, they started hitting shots.”

Glasser led the team with 13 points. Grasser had six and Julmist added five.

Looking ahead

The Wolves were slated to host Neah Bay on Dec. 12.

Sequim opens a varsity double-header at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Port Angeles.

Sequim is at a tournament in Seaside, Ore., Dec. 15-16.

Sequim freshman Abby Schroeder pushes the ball up-court as teammate Alisha Grasser looks on as the Wolves battle North Mason on Dec. 6. Schoreder had six points in the Sequim’s win. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Jayla Julmist, one of four Sequim freshmen to see action against North Mason on Dec. 6, tips Bulldog Hailey Simonson’s pass for one of her three steals on the night. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim’s Hope Glasser looks to block North Mason forward Sophia Green’s shot in the Wolves’ 57-36 win on Dec. 6. Glasser had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell