Stifling defense and some timely scoring from their point guard led Sequim’s Wolves to their first win on the season against Steilacoom at the John McCrossin Memorial Classic on Dec. 1.
The Wolves (1-1) got 26 points from senior Nate Despain as Sequim edged Steilacoom’s Sentinels, 60-49.
“We didn’t look that strong in the first half, then Nate hits a couple of threes at the end of the first half that gave us some momentum,” Sequim coach Greg Glasser said.
Sequim held the Sentinels to just two points in the third quarter, turning a 32-29 halftime deficit to a 41-34 lead going into the fourth.
Despain did much of his damage from long range, hitting six of nine 3-pointers and sinking all six free throws.
He also paced the team with seven rebounds and four assists.
Erik Christiansen added nine points and had three of the Wolves’ 12 steals. Joey Oliver had seven points while Kyler Rollness and Michael Young had six points apiece.
Sequim held Steilacoom to just 14-of-46 shooting (30 percent) from the field.
“I played all 11 guys; the second unit brought a (defensive) intensity that motivated all of our guys to play hard,” Glasser said.
Torrey Cady led the Sentinels with 18 points.
Loss in opener
Christiansen scored 13 points and Despain added 12, but it wasn’t enough to upset host Bainbridge in Sequim’s season-opener on Nov. 29.
Sophomore guard Andrew Ward hit five 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points while Senior forward Merritt McMahon had 3 points and 10 rebounds for Bainbridge (1-1), who opened the season with a six-point loss to Port Angeles on Nov. 27.
For Sequim, Despain had six rebounds while sophomore brother Dallin Despain and senior Riley Cowan added eight points each.
Oliver had five points and Rollness added a pair of steals for Sequim.
Looking ahead
Sequim opens Olympic League play Dec. 5 at Kingston.
Sequim gets their first home games soon after, taking on league foe North Mason on Dec. 7 and a non-league game against 1A Forks on Dec. 10.
The Wolves are at Bremerton Dec. 11 and Klahowya on Dec. 14.
