Girls basketball: Wolves take third in districts, move on to state tourney

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Playing short-handed in all three playoff games, Sequim’s Wolves made the most of their postseason entry with a pair of wins and a third-place finish at the West Central District 2/3 tourney last week.

Sequim secured a berth in the state tourney with a win over host Enumclaw on Feb. 15, got routed by rival Port Angeles two days later in the district semifinal, and rebounded with a gusty defensive effort to knock off Sammamish in the third/fourth place game on Feb. 19.

Despite a higher RPI ranking, the Wolves (19-4) are seeded lower than their first state foe, Lynden (15-6), who they’ll play at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Mount Vernon High School. (Sequim is ranked No. 8 by RPI but No. 13 in the state tourney, while Lynden, tanked No. 13 by RPI, is seeded 12th).

Sequim locks up regional seed

The fifth-seeded Wolves clinched its spot at the state regional tourney early, topping Enumclaw 54-45 on the road on Feb. 15. Sequim started with steady team play keeping the margin between six and 10 points all game long.

“The girls played another good game; it’s been a tough journey but the girls are finding a way to get it done,” SHS coach Joclin Julmist said.

Hannah Bates and Jolene Vaara led the way for Sequim. Bates led the team in scoring with 20 points and also grabbed nine rebounds with three steals and an assist.

“Hannah … played very well tonight on both sides of the ball making some clutch shots when we needed them,” Julmist said. “She was aggressive going to the basket and looking for her shot.”

Vaara posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, four blocked shots, three steals and three assists.

“Jolene was solid on both sides of the ball,” Julmist said. “She is a special player for us, I love the way she plays. She never complains, she just goes out and works.”

Hannah Wagner added eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Julmist credited Wagner for leading the team on defense by guarding the Hornets’ top player.

“She was everywhere help side and getting back on defense,” Julmist said. “She sees the (game) differently, she’s always a step or two ahead defensively.”

He noted that Sammie Bacon gave Sequim a “huge spark,” scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds.

Riders ride wave to win

Port Angeles made quick work of a short-handed Sequim team, holding the Wolves to just 14 percent shooting from the field in a 63-26 win in the semifinal on Feb. 17.

The top-seeded Roughriders led from wire-to-wire to earn the win in the rubber match in the season series and advance to their fourth straight district title game dating back to 2018. (Port Angeles went on to rout White River 61-33 for the district crown.)

Port Angeles was again able to exploit its advantage defensively due to the absence of injured post Jelissa Julmist and guard Bobbie Mixon, both of whom are out for the season with knee injuries.

Sequim also lost one of its best defenders, senior Hannah Wagner, to an apparent knee injury early in the contest.

The Riders 1-3-1 defense was as fierce as ever, forcing 30 Wolves’ turnovers in the game as portions of the contest effectively turned into layup lines for Port Angeles senior Eve Burke and junior Anna Petty.

Burke led all scorers with 19 points.

“We couldn’t make anything,” Joclin Julmist said. “We rebounded pretty well (but) they made all their shots.

(But we) didn’t give up at all.”

SHS defense stymies Sammamish

Sequim — missing Mixon, Jelissa Julmist and Taryn Johnson — managed to keep their foes from Bellevue in check in a 32-27 victory at Highline High School on Feb. 19, locking up the district’s third seed.

“The girls played great defense,” Joclin Julmist said. “We haven’t been able to get our offense going for a while now, but they keep figuring out a way to get it done.”

Sequim allowed just six Sammamish points in the first half.

Wagner returned from a knee injury suffered against Port Angeles two days prior, scoring a team-high 12 for the Wolves and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Hannah Bates added seven steals, five rebounds and eight points to pace Sequim.

Sammie Bacon had nine rebounds, six on the offensive glass.

The Wolves triumphed despite shooting just 18 percent (10-for-55) from the floor, including just one-of-14 from 3-point range.