BY OLY ARCHIBALD
TUKWILA — The Port Angeles Roughriders bowling team, in just its third season of play, is adding shiny new hardware to the Roughrider trophy case. The Roughriders placed sixth at the state tournament in Tukwila.
On day one, Leilah Franich and Xoey Penn led the way, with Franich averaging 170 over three games and Penn averaging 162. In game two, the Roughriders bowled an 813, breaking the 800 mark for the first time. Franich and Kenadie Ring both bowled personal best scores.
On day two, the Riders broke a Baker score of 190 in game three. Izzy Spencer bowled above her average on day one, contributing to the Riders’ overall score. Zoey Van Gordon averaged 156, placing her 20th in the state overall.
Head coach Becky Gunderson was elated with her team’s performance. “To claim sixth overall is a testament to how hard they worked. At times, we struggled in the regular season, but we stepped up in the postseason tournament and look to build as we lose no seniors.”
Peninsula Pirates Basketball
Just when it seemed the Peninsula Pirates men’s basketball team had lost its postseason chances, the Pirates responded in a big way, defeating eighth-ranked Edmonds on the road in double overtime, 101-99.
With the score tied 42-42 at halftime, the Pirates built a 13-point lead with 10:36 left in the game. However, as has happened in other contests, the Pirates gave up the late lead, sending the game into overtime. Twice in OT, the Pirates were down by five points but never quit, delivering the dramatic 101-99 upset.
Freshmen Isaiah Lopez and Jaiden Blackmon were the game’s biggest heroes, each scoring 26 points. Lopez was 11 of 12 from the free throw line, while Blackmon hit crucial free throws down the stretch, going 9 of 13 from the line. Antonio Odum added 12 points, and Cinco McNeal had his best game as a Pirate, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Akeem Sulaiman contributed nine points, while DeShawn Rushmeyer scored seven.
Cinco McNeal and Jaiden Blackmon on the KONP Newsradio post game show after the Pirates 101-99 2OT win over 8th ranked Edmonds
The Pirates, now 11-11 overall and 5-4 in conference play, host Bellevue on Wednesday night and Olympic next Saturday.
The third-ranked Peninsula women’s team had one of its best offensive performances of the season, knocking off Edmonds 96-66.
The Pirates came out red-hot, leading 25-13 after the first quarter and 53-36 at halftime.
Sophomore Ciera Agasiva was sensational, scoring 25 points while shooting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Two freshmen also made a major impact inside and out. Former two-time state champion Ryana Moss of Neah Bay was 5 of 9 from three-point range, scoring 19 points while adding five rebounds and five steals. Makena Patrick, out of Anaconda, Montana, hit a career-high 19 points inside the paint and pulled down seven rebounds.
Former Neah Bay Red Devil Ryana Moss hit 5, 3 points shots as she scored 19 points in the Peninsula Pirates 96-66 win over Edmonds
Freshman point guard Carliese O’Brien, filling in for injured guard Shania Moanunu, was outstanding once again, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. The Pirates have now won 17 straight games.
High School Basketball
In high school basketball action tonight, all eyes will be on Sequim as the fourth-ranked Wolves (11-2, 16-2) host the fifth-ranked Bremerton Knights (12-1, 14-4). A Wolves win would give them a share of the Olympic League championship with Bremerton.
The Knights are led by 6’3″ sophomore guard Jalen Davis, who is averaging 26 points per game. Davis is already drawing interest from major Division I programs across the country.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on KONP Newsradio, with the Les Schwab Tires Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45 p.m. Oly Archibald will provide play-by-play commentary, with Joe Gladfelter handling color commentary and Bill Bates serving as the game analyst.
In the final night of regular-season play, the Roughrider boys host Kingston, while the Roughrider girls travel to Kingston. The Sequim girls will be on the road at Bremerton. All games begin at 7:00 p.m.
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The Sequim 5th & 6th grade girls basketball team, attended the UW Husky game yesterday against 16th ranked Maryland. The Wolf Pups Marley, Ashtyn, Naveah, Mia, Macey, Gabby, Angelica, Ramey and Everly were on the floor daring the 16th ranked Teripans to take them on.