PORT ANGELES — For years now, the Port Angeles girls basketball team has been young, fielding a number of freshmen and sophomores.

Yet, the Roughriders, through their usually suffocating defense, have qualified for state two straight years with those young players and are the defending Olympic League champion.

Now, the Riders are a little older and experienced. And as Forks discovered in the season opener, they continue to play a stifling defense. Port Angeles could make big waves this year.

Leading the Riders are the Smith sisters, Lindsay and Lexie, now a junior and a senior. Lindsay at 5-foot-11 is a deadly two-way threat who appears ready for a big breakout year both rebounding and scoring as she had 19 points and 18 rebounds in her opening game. Lexie is a post player who can defend at 6-foot-0 and can also shoot the 3-point shot, said coach Michael Poindexter.

The team has graduated some big stars in the past few years — Millie Long, Bailee Larson, Eve Burke, Jaida Wood, Anna Petty, and several of these players have gone on to have outstanding college careers. The team graduated two important starters, Paige Mason and Izzy Felton, off last year’s team with Mason now playing for Skagit Valley College. Now is the time for the younger class of players to shine.

“Our strength is going to be rebounding and defense,” Poindexter said. “This is probably the most experienced group now we’ve had for a while.”

There is no set point yet, though Poindexter expects Lindsay Smith to handle the ball a lot.

“We have a number of kids who can take on the press break,” he said.

Another returning starter is junior Teanna Clark, a tough defensive player, who always gets her share of steals and fills up the box score.

“Teanna does an incredible job anchoring the 1-3-1 [zone defense],” Poindexter said.

Other returning players are Mikkhia Stevens, Cayleigh Allward, Becca Manson and Kenzie Moses, all juniors, senior Tatum Moses and sophomore Morgan Politika. All of these players got time last year off the bench.

“Tatum is a shooter who undersands the game. Morgan Politika is athletic. Becca is a better offensive rebounder and excellent defender,” Poindexter said.

“We have seven varsity returners and three returning starters to the group (Clark and the Smith sisters),” Poindexter said. “We will be able to run a number of different defenses. We may not be great at any one defense but will be be good at different defenses.”

Joining these veterans is one newcomer to the varsity group, freshman Sariah Doherty.

“She’s willing to play physical in a clean way. She has zero fear of contact,” Poindexter said. Junior Cayleigh Alward is another varsity newcomer, though she is an experienced junior.

Poindexter expects Bainbridge will be one of the teams to beat in the Olympic League, though the Spartans lost their first two games badly to a pair of good nonleague teams.

Port Angeles Roughriders

• Head coach: Michael Poindexter

• 2023-24 record: 13-1 in league; 17-8 overall, qualified for state

•­ Returners: Nearly everyone. Teanna Clark, Lexie and Lindsay Smith returning starters.

•  Newcomers: Freshman Sariah Dohery and junior Cayleigh Alward.

• Strengths: Defense and rebounding. Teams will struggle to score against the Riders. More experience than past years. Solid length. Team knows how to win.

• Working on it: Shooting has been a challenge in recent years. Can they improve their outside shooting?

This is an experienced team with six juniors and two seniors coming off a league championship and a trip to state. The Riders lost just two players off that team — Paige Mason and Izzy Felton. Port Angeles always plays tough defense. The team has good size with Lindsay and Lexie Smith, helped out by Becca Manson and Morgan Politika. A return trip to state appears very possible.

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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or sports@peninsuladailynews.com.