PORT ANGELES — This time, there would be no comeback.
In fact, the game was all but over halfway through the third quarter.
The 5-0 Olympic boys basketball team, came in to Port Angeles on Friday night looking to remain unbeaten and in first place in the Olympic League. The Roughriders took it to the Trojans, smothering them on defense for a dominant 75-40 win for Port Angeles’ first win in Olympic League play.
Coach Kasey Ulin said the team had to come in to Friday’s game with a postseason mentality to avoid going in an 0-3 hole in league.
“These guys are resilient. I am extremely proud of this team,” Ulin said.
“You could tell in the first quarter, they were locked in defensively,” he said.
Port Angeles was led by Gus Halberg, who scored 25 and had at least a half dozen steals. Halberg drove the lane time and again, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line.
“Gus Halberg is one of the best players in the state,” Ulin said. “He took 17 shots from the free-throw line. He just attacks and is relentless.”
“The Riders had two heartbreaking league losses 73-70 against North Mason and 71-66 in overtime against Bainbridge earlier last week. The Bainbridge game was especially tough as Port Angeles was ahead by 14 points entering the fourth quarter and was one second away from winning when the Spartans hit a desperation 3-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer.
Against Olympic, any time the Trojans threatened to get back in the game, the Riders responded with a big run sparked by their defense.
“We were able to finish the game,” Halberg said. “We’ve had some good quarters, but we hadn’t played a full dominant game for four quarter until tonight.”
There were three big runs to put the game away. Behind 18-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Ashton Gedelman started a 9-0 run when he drilled a 3-pointer, the first of two 3-pointers he made.
The Riders began the second half up 28-22 and started the third quarter on a 15-1 run to take command at 43-23.
The Trojans went on a 6-0 run and it felt like Olympic had the momentum and was going to claw back into the game at 43-29. Again, the Riders responded, this time with a 10-2 run to end the third quarter up 53-31. They were able to cruise through the fourth quarter. Port Angeles scored 47 points in the second half and outscored Olympic 58-22 over the final 20 minutes of the game.
“We had all the rhythym and momentum and we didn’t want to lose. Once you lose it, it’s hard to get it back,” Ulin said.
Ulin also said that Hunter Flores played a good game with nine points and Alex Angevine and Keatyn Hoch played good games defensively.
Port Angeles (1-2, 2-2) next plays Tuesday at North Kitsap (1-2, 2-3), which is not as dominant as the past few years, but did pick up a league win Friday over Kingston.
Port Angeles 75, Olympic 40
Oly. 13 9 9 9 — 40
PA 15 13 25 22 — 75
Port Angeles (75) — Halberg 25, Hope 14, Flores 9, Gedelman 6, Angevine 5, Hoch 4, Pierce 4, Sohlberg 3, Wallace 2.
Sequim 69, Bainbridge 44
BAINBRIDGE — The Sequim boys basketball team got another big game from Jericho Julmist, swamping Bainbridge 69-44 on the road to remain unbeaten in Olympic League play.
Julmist scored 23 a few days after scoring 31. He also had nine rebounds as Sequim took command of the game with a 21-8 second quarter.
The win put the Wolves’ record at 5-0 and 3-0 in Olympic League play. They are tied for first place in league with Bremerton.
Solomon Sheppard had a good all-around game with 15 points, four assists and four steals.
Mason Rapelje had 15 points and six rebounds while Ethan Melnick had eight rebounds to go with five points. Both Rapelje and Julmist hit a pair of 3-pointers.
The Wolves have a big game Tuesday at Olympic (2-1, 5-1).
Sequim 69, Bainbridge 44
Seq. 10 21 19 19 — 69
BI 13 8 13 10 — 44
Sequim (69) — Julmist 23, Sheppard 15, Rapelje 15, Melnick 5, Gray 4, Grider 4, White 3.
