TACOMA — The Port Angeles boys basketball team was in good shape for a possible trip to regionals early in the fourth quarter against Clover Park after a Gus Halberg bucket gave the Roughriders a 46-33 lead with seven minutes to play Saturday in a District 2/3 tournament elimination game.
Then the Clover Park Timberwolves started bombing away from downtown and they hit enough 3-pointers, five of them, in the fourth quarter to storm back for a 58-53 win, earning a trip to regionals and ending the Riders’ season. They also shot 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth.
Clover Park ended up scoring 25 of its points in the fourth. It was a little similar to a 14-0 run that Franklin Pierce put on Port Angeles on Friday. The Riders were able to compose themselves and rally to win that game. This time, it was too late for Port Angeles to rally.
“Anything that could have gone wrong did,” said coach Kasey Ulin. “This one was worse. The night before, we were able to right the ship. Basketball is a beautiful game, but it’s also a cruel game. Ulin said this team grew by leaps and bounds this year in character and leadership.
“Our kids did everything we asked them to do from June 1,” Ulin said.
Port Angeles’ Isaiah Shamp got off to a huge start in the key, scoring 12 points in the first quarter as the game remained close almost the entire first half.
The Roughriders held the lead most of the game, but could never stretch it beyond single digits until Tyler Hunter scored seven straight points on two buckets and a 3-pointer to give the Riders a 42-28 lead late in the third quarter.
At 46-33 with exactly 7:00 left, the game changed dramatically. Clover Park started hitting those 3-pointers, often times with Riders running at them, and forced some turnovers, quickly cutting that lead to 46-43. The Timberwolves added a 3-pointer with 1:48 left and another one with 1 minute left to take a 55-51 lead. They had erupted for 22 points in just six minutes.
Hunter got the Riders within one possession with a bucket at 55-53 with 48 seconds left, but that was Port Angeles’ last score.
Hunter finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Shamp had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Parker Nickerson scored 13.
Port Angeles finished its season with a 14-10 record and a second-place finish in the Olympic League. The good news for the Riders is that this is a junior-heavy team and should be back strong next year, especially with Nickerson and Shamp returning. Graduating are Hunter, Josiah Long, Nason Martinez, Nathaneal Surina and Bryant Hoch.
Clover Park 58, Port Angeles 53
PA 14 13 17 9 — 51
CP 11 11 11 25 — 58
Port Angeles (53) — Shamp 16, Hunter 16, Nickerson 13, Halberg 5, Townsend 2, Long 1.
Lummi 67, Neah Bay 59
MOUNT VERNON — Going up against their old rival Lummi, the Neah Bay boys basketball team clawed back into the game with a huge third quarter, but fell just short of winning the Tri-District championship, losing 67-59.
Neah Bay still qualified for the regional tournament next week by making it to the Tri-District championship game.
Lummi built up a 41-22 halftime lead over the Red Devils, but Neah Bay responded with a 23-8 third quarter to cut the lead down to 49-45. The Blackhawks were able to slow down the Red Devils in the fourth to pull out the win.
Julian Carrick led Neah Bay with 22 points. Buddy Aguirre had 13.
Neah Bay (14-6) is a No. 9 seed and plays at regionals beginning on Friday or Saturday against the winner of Inchelium (No. 17) and Orcas Island (No. 16). Neah Bay will host but the exact location has not been set as Neah Bay postseason games are occasionally played in Port Angeles.
Lummi 67, Neah Bay 59
Lummi 19 22 8 18 — 67
NB 6 16 23 14 — 59
Neah Bay (59) — Carrick 22, Aguirre 13, Halttunen 8, Chambers 7, Swan 7, Wimberley 2.
