PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls jumped all over Port Townsend early and got off to a 27-2 lead en route to a 45-13 nonleague win.
Cheyenne Wheeler led the Roughriders with 10 points, while Mikkiah Brady scored nine and Nizhoni Wheeler six. Eight different Riders scored in the game.
Port Townsend came into the game 3-1 but struggled from the floor early in Friday’s game against the bigger school.
The Redhawks didn’t score until 30 seconds left in the first quarter and didn’t hit a field goal until 4 minutes left in the third quarter.
“Port Angeles is a very good 2A school. We knew it would be the toughest game we would have all year,” said Redhawks coach Scott Wilson.
“The girls got rattled early. We’ll call it a low point. We’ll run into teams like this at District which is why we wanted to play a team like this,” Wilson said.
After the Redhawks girls settled down, they played the Riders relatively even in the second half, getting outscored just 13-9 over the final 11 minutes of the game.
Kaitlyn Meek hit a 3-pointer for the Redhawks and led the team with five points.
Riders coach Michael Poindexter said he thought his girls were relaxed in their shooting.
The Riders hit three 3-pointers and a number of other outside shots. He said the team showed good defensive technique, communicated well and made good shot selections.
What he liked most about the game was “some kids that don’t get to play a lot of minutes, I was impressed with their passing.”
Cheyenne Wheeler got six points on pinpoint passes from her sister Nizhoni. Poindexter said Nizhoni is one of the best passers, if not hte best, inthe Olympic League 2A Division.
“She’s got great hands, great vision,” he said.
Port Angeles (4-2, 2-1) played at Burlington-Edison Saturday night after press deadline. The Riders next play all the way across Washington at Pullman Monday.
Port Townsend (2-0, 3-2) will next play at Vashon on Thursday.
Port Angeles 45, Port Townsend 13
Port Townsend 2 0 8 3— 13
Port Angeles 11 9 16 9— 45
Port Townsend (13) — Meek 5, Apker-Montoya 2, Carson 2, Lake 2, Hammett 2.
Port Angeles (45) — C. Wheeler 10, Brady 9, N. Wheeler 6, Lunt 5, Gray 5, Steinman 4, Long 4, McGuffey 2.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.