BREMERTON — The Port Angeles boys basketball team got off to a fantastic start against Bremerton in the Roughriders Olympic League opener Friday night. But with point guard Kason Albaugh fouled out in the second half, the Riders struggled with turnovers in the fourth quarter and fell to the much-improved Knights 74-62.
The loss was in stark contrast to the Riders’ season-opening win last week in which they were down 13 in the fourth quarter but dominated the last four minutes of the game to beat Sammamish.
“Our guys were great. They played really well for three quarters,” Coach Kasey Ulin said. He said him and the rest of the coaching staff had to prepare the players better for the fourth.
“That loss is on us as a staff. And you have to give credit to Bremerton,” he said. “It’s game two. It’s a long season. We have an opportunity to learn.”
Friday night was a tale of two games as the Riders were red-hot early. They got three 3-pointers from Albaugh in the first quarter and two 3-pointers, a steal and slam dunk from Parker Nickerson to take a 26-12 lead after just six minutes.
“The guys were unbelievable in that first quarter,” Ulin said.
Bremerton responded with a 13-0 run at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second to cut the lead to 26-25, but the Riders bounced right back thanks to two Isaiah Shamp baskets and another Nickerson dunk. Despite Bremerton’s big run, Port Angeles was able to hold off the Knights to take a 37-33 lead into the half.
The Riders were able to build the lead up to 55-48 at the end of three quarters, but then came the rough fourth quarter. Bremerton went on a 24-3 run over six minutes of the fourth to take control of the game at 72-58.
Nickerson led the Roughriders with 20, while Shamp had 17. Dallas Dunning had 10 points and 12 rebounds and Albaugh nine points on his three 3-pointers.
Port Angeles (0-1, 1-1) looks to bounce back with a home league opener at 7 p.m. Tuesday against North Mason (1-0, 2-1).
Bremerton 74, Port Angeles 62
PA 26 11 18 7 — 62
Brem. 17 16 15 26 — 74
Port Angeles (62) — Shamp 18, Nickerson 17, Dunning 10, Albaugh 9, Halberg 4, Ruddell 2.
Bremerton (74) — Davis 26, Bulmer 19, Anderson 9, McQuarry 7, Taylor 7, Sellers 4, Christian 1.
Bainbridge 87, Sequim 66
BAINBRIDGE — The Sequim boys basketball team got five 3-pointers from Solomon Sheppard and another five treys from Keenan Green, but it wasn’t enough to counteract Bainbridge’s hot shooting in an 87-66 loss.
“They blew it open at the end of the third,” said coach Craig Brooks. “We played like it was an early game.”
The Wolves stayed within range of Bainbridge most of the game, but the Spartans were able to pull away with a 20-12 fourth quarter.
Green finished with 25 points and Sheppard 20.
Bainbridge countered Green and Sheppard’s big games with three 20-point scorers of their own, led by San Nylund, who had 25.
Charlie Grider added nine points for the Wolves.
Sequim (1-1, 3-1) beat Vashon 84-44. Statistics for that game were not available before press deadline.
The Wolves have their home league opener at 7 p.m. Tuesday against a hot Bremerton (1-0, 3-0) team.
Bainbridge 87, Sequim 66
Sequim 12 17 25 12 — 66
BI 14 23 30 20 — 87
Sequim (66) — Green 25, Sheppard 20, Grider 9, Rapelje 5, Melnick 3, Wiker 3, Schmadeke 1.
Bainbridge (87) — Nylund 25, Thielman 22, Burke 20, Rohracher 11, Hanlon 3, McCarter 3, Hill 2.
Girls basketball
Bainbridge 51, Sequim 48
BAINBRIDGE — The defending league champion Sequim girls basketball team graduated some important seniors from last year’s team, two of whom are playing for Peninsula College this year. But it appears the team might be in good hands this season with a new freshman varsity player.
The Wolves lost their season-opener, but it was a close 51-48 loss to a 3A opponent Bainbridge. Freshman Gracie Chartraw had a spectacular first game, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 24 points. She added six rebounds.
“She was special at times,” said coach Joclin Julmist.
Julmist said the Wolves played hard, but foul trouble and turnovers hurt the team. The game was close throughout, with Sequim holding a 23-22 lead at the half and Bainbridge up 41-39 after three quarters.
“Bainbridge made more plays in the end to close out the game. We were in foul trouble for most of the game and limited the way we wanted to play. We turned the ball over a lot and shot poorly from the free throw line,” Julmist said.
Jolene Vaara had 12 points and played solid defense with four steals, Julmist said. Dani Herman led the team with 12 rebounds to go with five points.
The Wolves (0-1, 0-1) play at Bremerton (0-1, 0-3) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Bainbridge 51, Sequim 48
Sequim 13 10 16 9 — 48
BI 8 14 19 10 — 51
Sequim (48) — Chartraw 24, Vaara 12, Herman 5, Turella 5, Mixon 2.
