ENUMCLAW — Port Angeles’ Parker Nickerson scored 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers, some from NBA range, but it wasn’t enough to overcome 23 Roughrider turnovers and a big Enumclaw lead as the Roughriders basketball team lost its Class 2A District 2/3 tournament opener 53-44.
Despite the loss, the Riders are still alive in the tournament. They play a consolation bracket game in Port Angeles at 6 p.m. today against a familiar foe in Franklin Pierce (13-8).
Too many turnovers
Coach Kasey Ulin said he wanted a maximum of 10 turnovers and the Roughriders gave the Hornets too many extra possessions.
“We played well defensively at times,” Ulin said. “It’s impossible to win with 23 turnovers. We need to value every possession.”
The Riders mounted a furious rally in the last couple of minutes, and if a couple more late shots had fallen, they might’ve pulled off a spectacular comeback.
Enumclaw hit a 3-pointer near the end of the third quarter and went on an 8-0 run to begin the fourth to build up a seemingly insurmountable 47-32 lead about midway through the fourth.
Port Angeles then erupted, forcing two turnovers on defense. Isaiah Shamp had two quick buckets, Nickerson had a steal and a bucket then hit two straight 3-pointers to make the Hornets nervous with a 12-2 run, quickly cutting the lead to 49-44 with plenty of time left to pull off a miracle.
The Riders began fouling to put Enumclaw on the line and the strategy worked at first. After the Hornets made a free throw, Shamp had a baseline fadeaway go halfway down the well and pop out that would’ve cut the lead to four. Port Angeles had a turnover on its next possession and Enumclaw was able to make enough free throws in the final seconds to keep the Riders at bay.
“The kids battled back and fought. I love seeing our kids fight,” Ulin said.
Nickerson had a huge first half with five 3-pointers and 16 points at the break as the Riders hung tough with the 19-2 Hornets, down just 26-24 at halftime.
“He’s playing at an extremely high level right now,” Ulin said.
Enumclaw built up a lead of 36-26 early in the third quarter. Port Angeles responded with a Tyler Hunter 3-point shot and three straight free throws by Nickerson after he was fouled attempting a 3-pointer to quickly make the score 36-32 late in the third.
Third-quarter run
That was when the disastrous 11-0 run began for Enumclaw that put Port Angeles in too big of a hole to climb out of.
Only three Roughriders scored and Ulin said the other guys need to give Nickerson more scoring help.
He said Franklin Pierce is a team that likes to trap and press full court and that the Riders are very familiar with the Cardinals, having played them twice in the postseason last year, at districts and in a state tournament elimination game.
Enumclaw 53, Port Angeles 44
Port Angeles 11 13 8 12 — 44
Enumclaw 14 12 13 14 — 53
Port Angeles (44) — Nickerson 27, Shamp 10, Hunter 7.
________
Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
