Girls basketball: Sequim stays unbeaten with wins over Knights, Vikings

By Michael Dashiell • January 25, 2023 1:30 am

Sequim’s girls basketball squad — ranked No. 2 in the state by Ratings Power Index (RPI) — passed a major hurdle in staying unbeaten this season with a 64-49 win at home against north Kitsap on Jan. 19.

Libby Turella scored all 14 of her points, including a trio of 3-pointers, in a decisive fourth quarter to help the Wolves (10-0 in Olympic League 14-0 overall) knock off a solid Vikings squad.

Jolene Vaara paced Sequim with 20 points and five steals.

“She was really good tonight on both sides of the floor,” Sequim coach Joclin Julmist said of Vaara.

Jelissa Julmist had a huge game in all nearly facets of the game with 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals.

“[This was] probably the most complete game of the season for her,” Joclin Julmist said.

Sammie Bacon chipped in eight points and eight rebounds, six of those caroms coming on the offensive end.

Sequim held a 14-11 lead after one quarter and 27-20 lead by halftime, but North Kitsap chipped away to trail just 39-34 before Turella erupted in the fourth quarter, sinking five of her six shots.

Joclin Julmist credited Hannah Bates with being “a good floor general breaking their press and making good passes and playing great defense,” as well as the efforts of guards Taryn Johnson and Bobbi Mixon for effort on both sides of the court.

Besides a four-point win in Port Angeles earlier this month, the Wolves’ biggest threat came from North Kitsap on Dec. 19, when Sequim survived a 53-43 decision in Poulsbo.

SHS knocks off Knights

Earlier this season, a plucky Bremerton squad proved a tough opponent for Sequim’s Wolves in a 13-point Wolves win.

This time around? Not nearly as close.

Vaara had 26 points, six rebounds and six of the Wolves’18 steals in a 60-32 rout in Bremerton on Jan. 17.

“This was a tough game for the girls, but they stepped up and figured out a way to get the win,” Joclin Julmist said. “Everyone contributed tonight.”

Sequim held a 20-4 lead after one quarter and never let the Knights back into the game.

Bates sank three 3-pointers on the way to 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jelissa Julmist added eight points and 10 rebounds.

Bacon chipped in six points, seven rebounds and a team-high six assists.

“Sammie played very well for us tonight; she was everywhere,” Joclin Julmist said.

Turella pulled down six of her seven rebounds off the Bremerton glass.

Coming up

Sequim was slated to play at North Mason on Jan. 24 — results were not available at press time.

The Wolves host Kingston on Jan. 27 and play at Olympic on Jan. 31.

Sequim then hosts Port Angeles on Feb. 2 in a girls-boys varsity doubleheader; the girls play at 5:45 p.m., followed by the boys.

Sequim then closes the regular season on Feb. 7 with a non-league game against Neah Bay — who is ranked No. 1 by RPI among Washington state 1B schools with a 9-1 record (as of late last week).

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Sequim’s Jolene Vaara goes to the basket for two of her team-high 20 points in a 64-49 Olympic League win over North Kitsap on Jan. 19.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Sequim guard Bobbi Mixon, right, dribbles out of trouble in the Wolves’ 64-49 win over North Kitsap on Jan. 19.