A pair of league match-ups turned out to be mismatches, as Sequim’s Wolves prepared for their key showdown with their cross-peninsula rival this week.
Sequim (6-0 in Olympic League play, 10-0 overall) was slated to play at Port Angeles on Jan. 10; results were not available at press time.
The Wolves dispatched two league foes last week with ease starting with a 63-15 rout of the Kingston Buccaneers on the road on Jan. 3.
Senior points guard Hannah Bates scored 15 points in the first quarter and finished with 17 points.
Bates sank all five of her 3-point attempts in the first frame as Sequim leapt to a 31-2 lead, and held a 51-7 advantage by halftime.
“The girls shot the ball very well in the first half of the game,” Sequim coach Joclin Julmist said.
Jelissa Julmist had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Jolene Vaara chipped in 13 points, three assists and four steals.
“Jolene was great on the defensive end of the court; she was very efficient,” Joclin Julmist said. “Jelissa did a good job working on her post moves and finishing in the paint.”
Taryn Johnson scored nine points and had three thefts. Sammie Bacon garnered seven rebounds.
“Taryn came in and was great on both sides of the ball,” Joclin Julmist said. “Sammie played very well also, on the defensive side and rebounding.”
Libby Turella chipped in five points, three rebounds and two assists.
“Libby has been playing very well for us,” Joclin Julmist said. “She’s been working really hard in practice and is starting to find success in the games.”
He also praised Bobbi Mixon for “handling the pressure and getting the ball to players in the right position to score” and to Kaitlyn Bloomenrader for being “very effective when they went into the game.”
Vaara leads charge versus Trojans
Two days later, Vaara helped the Wolves dominate at home against Olympic, nearly out-scoring the Trojans by herself.
Vaara hit 9-of-14 shots from the field for 24 points and added six rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 64-25 SHS victory.
“She did a great job on both sides of the court and moving without the ball,” Joclin Julmist said.
Sammie Bacon hit four of her five field goal tries and had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Jelissa Julmist had another solid all-around game with eight points, six rebounds, three assists and five steals.
“Jelissa worked hard in the post and did a good job passing and playing defense for us tonight,” Joclin Julmist said.
Bates chipped in six points, three assists and four steals. Turella added eight points.
“Hannah did a great job running the show, protecting the ball, playing defense and shooting the ball,” Joclin Julmist said. “Sammie and Libby also did a great job on both sides of the court rebounding and making baskets.
“Everyone got a chance to play; [a] good win for the girls.”
Coming up
Following Sequim’s key match-up with second place Port Angeles, the Wolves host Bainbridge on Jan. 12 and play at Bremerton on Jan. 17.
Sequim hosts North Kitsap on Jan. 20 before hosting 4A South Kitsap in a non-league match-up on Jan. 21.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Sequim’s Jolene Vaara, right, drives past Olympic’s Sophia Brown for two of her game-high 24 points in the Wolves’ 64-25 home win over Olympic on Jan. 5.
