Photo: Kason Albaugh hit for 19 points in the Roughriders’ 72-60 win over 8th-ranked Bremerton

By Oly Archibald

PORT ANGELES — Kasey Ulin’s Port Angeles Roughriders, 10-3 in league play, earned a hard fought 72-60 win over the 8th ranked Bremerton Knights last night in Port Angeles.

With the win the Roughriders finish in a very respectful 2nd place in the Olympic League just behind #1 ranked North Kitsap. Many basketball aficionados think the Roughriders will earn a #4 seed in the district tournament starting Tuesday night. If that happens, the Roughriders will host a winner-to-regionals match up.

In the first half the Roughriders could not throw the ball in the ocean from the outside and with Roughrider big man Isaiah Shamp getting two early fouls, the Roughrider offense was on the verge of extinction. However, three components of the game enabled the Roughriders to hold down a 31-30 lead. The Roughriders only turned the ball over 12 times and junior point guard Gus Halberg had by far the best game of his career. Halberg has improved his ball handling skills and decision making greatly from the start of the season. For most of the game Halberg was the best player on the floor next to Bremerton’s Jalen Davis.  Halberg scored 14 points with 6 of those points from the line.

Hallberg’s backcourt partner, senior Kason Albaugh, is by far the most improved Roughrider from last season. In the first half, like his other green jerseyed buddies, Albaugh could only find iron.

The 2nd half was an entirely different story. Albaugh had suffered a demoralizing football loss at Bremerton and the earlier season 74-62 loss to the Knights. Last night Albaugh set out to rid himself of the memories. Albaugh hit five 3-point shots and broke the game wide open. Albaugh ended the night with 19 points. Roughrider Senior Parker Nickerson had the perfect package of getting the ball to the rim on dribble drives to the paint and hitting soft floaters to go with 2, 3-point shots for 21 points. Isaiah Shamp came alive in the 4th quarter with 7 points and Dallas Dunning hit for 6 points.

Bremerton freshman guard Jalen Davis put on a show and dazzled the crowd with 29 points.

The Roughriders now wait until Sunday for the District bracket to be released.

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The Roughrider girls struggled early with bottom dweller Bremerton but knocked off the Knights 53-36. The Roughriders end the regular season 13-1 15-6 and should host a winner to Regionals game next Wednesday night.

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In middle school action, the Stevens Stampeders 8th graders are now 8-0 with a 37-10 blowout of Blue Heron. Sariah Doherty led the way with 10 points. Storey Schmidt and Madison Smith hit for 8 points. London Bourland had 4 points. Catherine Chance, Maddy Walton and Lily Mahanley all scored 2 points and Persephone Perry had one point.

The 7th graders swamped Blue Heron 36-4. Nyah Langdon led the way with 13 points. Maelyn Benedict scored 11 points. Darcy Ring finished with 6 points. Lainey Rudd had 4 points and Ava Lowery had 2 points.

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There is a big NWAC doubleheader on Saturday at Peninsula College. The 4th ranked Pirate Women 8-0 host 10th ranked Edmonds 7-1 at 2:00. The Pirates have won 11 games in a row.

The Peninsula Pirates, ranked 4th, are 8-0 in Northern Conference play

At 4:00 the 9th ranked Pirate men 6-2 host 5-3 Edmonds. Both teams are on 3 game winning streaks.