Each quarter, the Wolves seemed to run into a different but efficiently destructive gremlin.
In the first quarter, it was turnovers. In the second, it was second-chance points. In the third, inconsistency. And in the crucial fourth, their shooting simply went cold.
The four gremlins added up to a 57-43 loss at Port Angeles Feb. 3 to a Roughrider team they had beaten earlier this season.
That Sequim win was in mid-January, however, when senior Ary Webb was sinking shots from the perimeter and letting other Wolves harass P.A. on the defensive end. It was a good two weeks before a bout with mononucleosis effectively destroyed the remainder of Webb’s season.
Sequim needed Webb more than ever last week, as Port Angeles’ 2-3 zone late forced the Wolves to test their outside shooting touch, and despite some good looks at the basket, Sequim went 0-for-12 from three-point land.
Slashing to the basket for points for baskets or trips to the free throw line, Sequim senior John Textor led the Wolves with 22 points. But just seven of those came after halftime, when the Roughrider zone shut down his forays toward the hoop.
Sequim went cold at exactly the wrong time. Down just five points (47-42) with six minutes remaining in the game, the Wolves proceeded to miss all 11 shots from the field – including seven three-pointers – and scored one point, a Textor free throw.
The Roughriders managed to increase their lead to double digits with two minutes left, securing their second league victory.
The game looked to be a barnburner from start. Sequim took a 10-6 lead halfway through the first quarter but wound up down 17-16, with 10 of those Port Angeles points coming on turnovers.
In the second quarter, Sequim gave up four offensive rebounds and six points in a crucial two-minute span. Only strong efforts from Textor, Jeremie Oliver and Reed Omdal kept it close, as
Sequim trailed 36-29 at halftime.
If Sequim was looking for some model of consistency to start the second half, they didn’t get it. In their first six possessions of the third quarter, Sequim had a missed shot, two made free throws and four turnovers.
Still, thanks to a number of Roughrider errors late, Sequim managed to stay within double digits until a cold streak in the fourth quelled the Wolves’ final rally.
Dustin Walsh led the Rough-
riders with 17 points while teammate Antonio Stevenson added 14 points and five steals. Steve Rogers chipped in with 12 rebounds.
Sequim’s Omdal had nine points, three steals and a blocked shot.
The Wolves were scheduled to play North Kitsap at home Feb. 10 – results were unavailable at press time. Sequim plays at North Mason (Belfair) on Feb. 13 and at Olympic (Silverdale) on Feb. 17.
Olympic League standings
_ 1A/2A
Team Lg. Over.
Pt. Townsend 12-2 16-2
North Mason 11-2 14-3
Klahowya 4-9 5-11
Sequim 4-9 7-10
Kingston 1-12 2-15
_ 3A
Team Lg. Over.
North Kitsap 13-1 15-2
Bremerton 9-5 9-9
Olympic 4-9 7-10
Port Angeles 2-11 3-12
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
