BURIEN – Coach Mike Poindexter’s Port Angeles Roughriders’ defense intimidated the second-best team in the district, the White River Hornets, by blowing out the Hornets 61-33 to win the District Championship. The Roughriders quickly jumped out to a 18-5 lead where Roughrider Jr. Point Guard Anna Petty completely took charge of the game. Petty scored eight of her seventeen points in the first 4 minutes of the game setting the tempo of the game. Sr. Eve Burke proved without question she is by far the best player in the district. Burke hit for twenty-eight points either hitting the glass hard for put-back rebounds or scoring on the fast break were often she was fouled that ended in 3-point plays. Defensively, the entire Roughrider roster with their in-your-face style of defense batted away several Hornet shots into the bleachers. Bailee Larson rounded out the scoring five points and her defense was spectacular. Lexie Smith hit for four points, Jayde Gedelman hit a three ball and Paige Mason had two points. After the game, the fun began with the Roughriders receiving the championship trophy, cutting down the nets with pictures and celebrating with a large contingent of Roughrider fans. One celebration that was very noticeable was when former Roughrider and current PLU Lute Jaida Wood joined her old teammates that sent the Roughriders in another jubilant celebration.

Sequim Wolves take third at district

The Sequim Wolves, worn down and battered from the season, found a way to knock off Sammamish 32-27 to place third in the district tournament. The Wolves jumped out to a 16-1 lead and held off the Totems who pulled to within one at 23-22 with 2:27 left in the game. Sr. Hannah Wagner with a sore knee was the star of the game. Wagner hit five critical free throws in the last two minutes of the game to seal the win. Wagner led all scorers with twelve points and was all over the floor rebounding, playing great defense and coming up with game changing steals. Jr. point guard Hannah Bates had an outstanding performance as well producing big defensive stops and scoring eight points. Jolene Vaara and Lauryn Stephen’s each had four points. Sammie Bacon and Addie Smith had two points.

Roughrider boys grab third place at district

Coach Kasey Ulin’s Roughriders got their swag back after beating Enumclaw 68-52 for third place in the district 3 AA tournament.  It was obvious from the start of the game that the Enumclaw coaching staff had game planned to try and take out the Roughrider scoring machines Wyatt Dunning and John Vaara. Enumclaw did a nice job holding Dunning to fourteen points and Vaara to nine. Where Enumclaw completely missed the bus was with the Roughrider backcourt. Roughrider Guard Michael Soule has big shoes to fill, starting for the injured Parker Nickerson. Soule responded with Gusto. Soule hit seven 3-point long-range bombs for twenty-one points with the Roughriders exploding off the bench with every shot. (In fact, there were rumors from next door Sea-Tac Airport that during the Roughrider game 7 UFOs showed up on Sea-Tac Air Traffic Control radar screens. One must wonder!) The Roughriders grinded out a tough 7-point lead at 51-44 after 3 quarters before the Roughriders blew it open in the 4th quarter for the good looking 68-52 win. Roughrider Sr. point guard Xander Maestas who was benched with foul trouble in the White River game took complete control of the game hitting for sixteen points. Quanah Wheeler added four points and Soph. Isaiah Shemp once again gave great minutes off the bench with four points.

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KONP will broadcast PAHS and Sequim all regional and state finals tournament games beginning this week.