Olympic League standings
(as of Jan. 21)
Team Lg. Over.
North Kitsap 7-1 13-3
Port Angeles 7-1 12-4
Sequim 6-3 10-5
Olympic 5-3 9-7
Bremerton 3-6 6-10
North Mason 2-7 7-9
Kingston 0-9 0-16
Sequim brothers Nate and Dallin Despain have played together so long — about every day for the past four years, they say — that they know each other’s moves by heart.
Good thing for the Wolves that league foes don’t.
The Despains — Nate, a senior, and Dallin, a sophomore — helped spark a key 55-43 home win against an athletic Bremerton Knights team that clinched a postseason berth for the Wolves (6-3 in Olympic League play, 10-5 overall) heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.
“Over the course of the entire game we were aggressive,” Nate Despain, who led the team with 23 points, said following Friday’s win.
Midway through the first quarter, Sequim coach Greg Glasser went with a lineup featuring quick-handed reserves that matched the tempo of the lanky Bremerton squad. It paid off, as the Wolves jumped out to an 18-9 lead late in the first quarter and 28-17 lead by halftime.
“These guys are great,” Sequim coach Greg Glasser said. “The kids work really hard. If their number’s are called, they come ready (to play).”
Bremerton kept creeping back, (closing the gap to five points 33-28) late in the third quarter before reserve Rigo Langston made what Glasser said was a key play, diving to steal the ball from Knight player on one end and moments late knocking down a corner 3-pointer for a 37-28 Sequim lead. A Nate Despain layup one possession later gave the Wolves a double-digit lead they’d never relinquish.
“Rigo is the ultimate teammate,” Glasser said. “He sacrifices, he’s selfless (and) puts it all on the line.”
While the Wolves were busy spreading the wealth on offense — no player other than Nate Despain had as mush as Erik Christiansen’s seven, but nine different players scored — Dallin Despain had the task of guarding the Knight’s quick-handed Keith Jackmon and freshmen guards Joseph Wilson and D’Angelo Moore.
“Dallin is such a great defender; I would use the word ‘annoying’,” Glasser said. “If I were facing us, I wouldn’t want him (guarding me).”
Dallin Despain credited his older brother for his development in recent years, particularly in handling the ball.
“(Nate’s) basketball IQ is really good; I try to do everything like him,” Dallin Depain said.
Langston and Kyler Rollness finished with six points each, as six Wolves hit 3-point shots to bury Bremerton.
Moore led the Knights with 11 points.
The win helped the Wolves rebound from a 55-43 upset loss at 1A Klahowya on Jan. 16.
SHS avoids upset, beats Bulldogs
A decisive third quarter and a huge game from point guard Nate Despain helped Sequim edge North Mason on the road, 70-62, on Jan. 15.
Despain had 30 points — hitting 6-of-7 from 3-point range — and added seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Christiansen added 11 points, Michael Young had eight points and Langston chipped in with a team-high four assists.
The host Bulldogs led 15-13 after one quarter and 30-28 at halftime before the Wolves used a 20-9 run in the third quarter to take the lead.
Sequim sank nine of 10 from the free throw line to help seal the victory.
Senior guard Ryan Pearson led North Mason with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Looking ahead
The Wolves were scheduled to play at Port Townsend on Jan. 22 — results were not available at press time.
Sequim is at league-leading North Kitsap on Jan. 25 before finishing the regular season with two home dates: Jan. 29 against Olympic and Jan. 31 versus Port Angeles.
“It’s going to be a fun battle down the stretch. The good thing (about the schedule) is that it prepares us for postseason,” Glasser said.
Nate Despain said focus is going to be key for Sequim in the final few games.
“Everyone needs to come in focused,” he said. “After PA (a loss to rival Port Angeles on Jan. 8), we are totally aggressive. It pushed us to a higher level.”
With a top-four finish in league, Sequim had a spot at the West Central District tourney that begins Feb. 6 at Curtis High or Wilson High in Tacoma.
The top six from the 16-team tournament earn a spot in the regional round of the 2A state tournament.
Sequim guard Nate Despain drives to the rim for two of his game-high 23 points in a key league victory over Bremerton on Jan. 18. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Dallin Despain, center, keeps a close eye on Bremerton’s Keoni Laguana in the first half of a 12-point Sequim win on Jan. 18. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim’s bench erupts after the Wolves drew a charge in the first half of a 55-43 win over Bremerton last week. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
