PORT ANGELES — Sequim erased some long-simmering frustrations Tuesday night, holding off a spirited second-half comeback from rival Port Angeles to earn a 40-36 Olympic League girls basketball win over the Roughriders, the Wolves’ first win in the Rider Gym in more than a decade.
“We have been coming here for so many years and not coming home happy, so we are pretty pumped to win and to get to bring it back to our town, so I think we are really proud of that,” junior forward Jolene Vaara said.
Vaara paced Sequim’s attack with 15 points and an impressive 10 steals.
The Wolves overcame early foul trouble on seniors Jelissa Julmist and Vaara, a rough patch on both ends of the floor during Port Angeles’ third-quarter comeback from 10 points down and some continued coldness from the free-throw line down the stretch to earn the win and remain undefeated.
“We struggled tonight with our shooting, but the girls figured out a way to get the win,” Sequim coach Joclin Julmist said. “Jolene was special on the defensive side tonight.”
Port Angeles started slow, turning the ball over 13 times while scoring just 11 points in the first half, but only trailed Sequim 18-11 at the break.
The Wolves pushed the lead to double digits before the Riders stormed back with some determined drives by Anna Petty and Paige Mason, followed by a Petty 3-point basket.
Lexie Smith stepped outside for a corner 3-pointer, then tied the game up at 27-all entering the fourth quarter with a bucket inside.
“We just tried to get them to calm down,” Riders coach Michael Poindexter said. “We relaxed more, stopped forcing things and stopped trying to do too much on our own.”
Port Angeles’ Anna Petty, center, tries to squeeze through the defense of Sequim’s Jolene Vaara, left, and Sammie Bacon on Tuesday at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Julmist picked up her fourth foul early in the final frame and Vaara soon was saddled with her fourth, as well.
But the Wolves shook off some poor shots and turnovers and hit a couple of huge 3s to answer Port Angeles.
Piper Williams cut baseline for a layup to pull the Riders ahead 29-28, but Taryn Johnson answered with a 3-pointer on the other end as the lead changed hands.
“Taryn came up with a few big buckets in the fourth quarter,” Joclin Julmist said.
Petty brought Port Angeles back within one, moving around a Williams screen to nail a left-side trey to trail Sequim 33-32 with 2:56 to play.
Vaara came right back, draining a triple from the left corner to put the Wolves up four, 36-32, with 2:40 to play. She led all scorers with 15 points.
Port Angeles came within four in the final 20 seconds on a Williams 3, but couldn’t get the ball back.
“I could see it with everyone,” Vaara said. “We would do anything to win that game.”
“It means we can win anywhere, here, or at home. We also know we have a lot to work on.”
Julmist had 13 points and was 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the second half. She avoided picking up her fifth foul until late in the ball game.
Sequim’s Taryn Johnson, right, steps into the lane as Port Angeles’ Lexie Smith puts up interference on Tuesday night in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
“It does feel good to win it senior year. We don’t have to come back here again,” Julmist said.
Poindexter was pleased with his team’s ability to turn their games around in the second half.
“I was happy with our defense and thought we executed pretty well. If you told me we would hold Sequim to 40 points before the game, I would have taken that.”
Petty played the entire game for the Riders, leading Port Angeles with 12 points.
“She never once came out,” Poindexter said. “She did a great job of trying to settle everyone down and play our normal game. She played a smart game on both ends of the floor.”
Williams moved well off the ball and attacked the rim in the second half.
“She had good off-ball movement, she’s really stellar at that and reads gaps well.”
And sophomore post Lexie Smith held her own with nine points against Julmist, Sammie Bacon and Vaara down low.
“Her strongest game of the year,” Poindexter said. “She was steady, didn’t panic and was a calming presence on the floor.”
Port Angeles (5-2, 5-7) hosts Bremerton (1-6, 1-7) at 7 p.m. today. First-place Sequim (7-0, 11-0) gets a another big challenge tonight, hosting 3A Bainbridge (6-1, 7-4) at 7 p.m.
Sequim 40, Port Angeles 36
Sequim 9 9 9 13 — 40
PA 5 6 16 9 — 36
Sequim (40) — Vaara 15, Julmist 13, Johnson 5, Mixon 3, Turella 2, Bates 2, Bacon.
Port Angeles (36) — Petty 12, Lexie Smith 9, Lindsay Smith 5, Williams 5, Mason 4, Rognlien, Clark.
Port Angeles’ Anna Petty, center, tries to get rid of the ball from the floor as Sequim’s Sammie Bacon, left, and Bobbie Mixon close in on Tuesday night in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Lindsay Smith, center, and Sequim’s Hannah Bates fight for a rebound as Port Angeles’ Lexie Smith looks on at left on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Sequim’s Hannah Bates gets cut off by Port Angeles’ Anna Petty during Tuesday’s matchup in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Sequim’s Jelissa Julmist, top, pulls down a loose ball as teammate Hanna Bates, left, and Port Angeles’ Piper Williams, center and Lexie Smith, right, keep watch on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
