RAYMOND — Bailey Johnson’s steal and layup in the final moments and Avery Dilley’s clutch rebound and free throws with 17 seconds left sealed Forks’ 58-54 win over Raymond-South Bend.
The Spartans held an early 15-point lead after a fast start.
“We came out hot out of the gate, the kind of start you ask for in high school hoops on the road against a good team with a rowdy crowd and loud band,” Forks coach David Hurn said.
But the Ravens had the hot hand from outside and whittled away at the Spartans’ advantage.
Kassie Koski had 29 points for Raymond-South Bend.
“We tried to help on the drive too much and we were leaving shooters open on the perimeter,” Hurn said. “We knew the storm was going to come. They went on a run and took the lead in the fourth.”
Johnson came through to put Forks up for the final time.
“Bailey got a huge steal and tough layup to finish to go up by one,” Hurn said. “She had a great all-around game with a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.”
Chloe Gaydeski added 17 points and Dilley had nine, including the clutch freebies late.
“They’ve been working hard for nights like that when the games really start to matter,” Hurn said. “They put everything together.”
Forks (2-0, 5-7) hosts Onalaska tonight.
Initial RPI rankings
Heading into a huge home clash with North Kitsap tonight at 7 p.m., the undefeated Sequim (10-0) boys are riding high in the first basketball Ratings Percentage Index of the season at No. 2 in Class 2A. Lynden (10-0) is the top team thus far.
Part of the recipe of seeding state tournaments in a number of prep sports, the RPI is an easy equation that provides an estimate of team performance through the season.
The formula used is as follows: RPI = (40 percent x winning percentage) + (40 percent x opponents’ win percentage) + (20 percent x opponents, opponents, winning percentage).
Sequim’s win over an Australian traveling team doesn’t count in the official standings. In fact, no out-of-state or country contests count in the RPI.
Navigating the minefield of talented teams that make up the Olympic League this season may have some major impacts on the Wolves’ rankings moving forward.
Bainbridge (7-3) is No. 12, Bremerton (5-3) is No. 15, Olympic (8-3) is No. 21, North Kitsap (5-5) is No. 23 and Port Angeles (4-6) is No. 32.
Bremerton was the preseason Olympic League favorite after its run to the state tournament semifinals with a young team last season and the Knights looked the part in early blowouts of Kingston and North Kitsap.
But a 63-61 upset of Bremerton by Bainbridge back in December left the door open for league title chase.
Enter the Wolves, a team winning with defensive effort and yet to yield 50 points in a game.
Other RPI rankings
The two-time defending Class 1B state champion Neah Bay girls (10-0) are at the top of 1B.
Neah Bay’s 7-1 start includes the Forks boys’ lone loss and has the Red Devils at No. 2 in Class 1B.
Forks (11-1) sits No. 11 in the Class 2B boys RPI. Quilcene (7-2) and its star Taylor Bohling are No. 16.
East Jefferson (3-5) is No. 34 in 1A playing in a league with No. 1 Annie Wright, No. 7 Bellevue Christian and No. 13 Cascade Christian. The Rivals girls (4-6) are No. 32.
The Port Angeles girls (5-5) are No. 20 in 2A and Sequim (2-5) is No. 45.
The Forks (11-1) boys are just outside of the Class 2B top 10 at No. 11
while the Spartans girls (5-7) are No. 19.
