By Oly Archibald

SEQUIM — It might have been freezing cold outside Rick Kaps Gymnasium last night, but the Port Angeles Roughrider girls basketball team played as they were in the sun- kissed Bahamas. The Roughrider guards attacked the Wolves’ defenders, and it seemed like the Wolves were running in dry sand all night long. The Roughriders came from behind to knock off the Wolves 66-64 in a performance that was probably their best played game in the last 3 years and finally showed cased the talented Sophomore class that have high expectations from Roughrider Nation.

It was the Wolves however that came out smoking, as Gracie Chartraw hit 4 long distance 3-point bombs and the Wolves led 20-12 after the first quarter. The problem for the Wolves was when the Roughriders decided to use a “zone box and one” playing Izzy Felton on Chartraw. Chartraw did not score another point.

Meanwhile, the Roughriders half-court offense looked like a Neah Bay Red Devil offensive attack. Guards Felton and Teanna Clark were relentless, attacking the paint and getting the ball to the rim or dishing the ball out to wide open shooters.

Sophomore guard Clark had her best game as a Roughrider, hitting for 23 points with 4 3-point bombs. Senior guard Izzy Felton was outstanding on both sides of the ball. Felton hit for 13 points with 6 of her points from the line. Lexie Smith hit for 13 points from the 3-point stripe and points on the low blocks. Lindsey Smith was in foul trouble for most of the game and still scored 9 points.

PA’s Teanna Clark had 23 points with  4 three pointers 

The big spark was 5’5″ sophomore guard Kenzie Moses coming off the bench and hitting 2 crucial 3-point shots. Moses outscored the Sequim bench all by herself 6-0. The Roughriders were not perfect, missing too many layups. Had they made those shots they could have won by double digits.

No doubt about it, it was a very painful loss for the Wolves though it’s a game where the coaches and players can watch the film there are some easy fixes with a lot of head scratching from the Wolves coaching staff and players. The Wolves led for most of the night and had some great individual performances. Libby Turella hit for 17 points with 7 of those points from the line. Jolene Vaara had just 5 points in the first half. The Wolves coaching staff started working Vaara on the low blocks in the 2nd half and Vaara ended up with 19 points. Bobbie Mixon played really well, hitting 3, 3-point shots for 13 points. The Roughriders are in control for the Olympic league championship with 2 tough games left at Bainbridge and home with Sequim.

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The Roughrider boys were wearing their Bermuda shorts as well, having no problem with the Wolves in a 77-52 win. The younger and smaller Wolves were competitive for the first half, trailing 19-12 at the end of the 1st quarter and 36-22 at the half. The Roughriders were just too good and played well. Dallas Dunning and Parker Nickerson each had 19 points. Gus Halberg added 11 points. Isaiah Shamp hit for 9 points and Ezra Townsend came off the bench and scored 6 points.

For the Wolves, Lars Wiker was outstanding, hitting for 15 points. Keenan Green hit for 13 points.

Next Tuesday night the Roughriders have a big Home game with Bremerton while the Wolves travel to Bainbridge.

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In high school bowling action, the Roughriders beat Olympic 5-0. In game one Abby Robinson rolled 6 strikes including 3 strikes in the 10th frame. Paige Pangaro finished the game with 5 straight strikes to score a 179. In game 2 Robinson rolled the first clean game in the programs history leaving no pins standing in any frame. Pangaro added a 158. Kenadie Ring added a 124 and 129. Also contributing were Sophie Constant, Xoey Penn and Zoey Van Gordon. The Roughriders finish the regular season Monday with Sequim.