BY OLY ARCHIBALD
PORT ANGELES — It was another incredible weekend for local high school teams, as new trophies now shine in the cases at Sequim and Port Angeles High School.
The Port Angeles boys’ swim team, led by legendary coach Sally Cole, made a strong showing at the state championships, finishing in sixth place. Finn Thompson led the way with an impressive third-place finish in the 100 backstroke. Thomas Jones also had a standout performance, placing fifth in the 500 freestyle, while Grant Butterworth secured seventh in diving. Miles Van Denburg finished eleventh in the 500 freestyle, and Jack Root came in sixteenth in diving. The Roughriders’ relay teams also had a strong showing, with the 200 medley relay team of Jones, Nolan Medgin, Thompson, and Van Denburg finishing seventh, while the 200 freestyle relay team of Pat Ross, Jones, Van Denburg, and Thompson placed eighth.
The Roughrider swim team finished sixth in the state. Pictured left to right: Liam Nicholson, Grant Butterworth, Finn Thompson, Jack Root, Thomas Jones, Nolan Medgin, Patrick Ross, and Miles Van Denburg.
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On the basketball court, the Port Angeles girls and Sequim boys punched their tickets to the Sweet 16 Regionals. The Roughrider girls staged one of the most thrilling comebacks in school history, erasing a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat No. 2 seed Eatonville 48-44. After managing just 10 points in the first half, the Roughriders exploded in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cruisers 27-11. Mikkhia Stevens hit two crucial three-pointers, while Lexie Smith drained two late threes and finished with 14 points. Teanna Clark played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor, scoring six points, and Lindsay Smith contributed 13 before fouling out—or did she? The game ended in dramatic fashion, with Morgan Politika sealing the victory with a buzzer-beater.
The Roughriders carried that momentum into Saturday’s district championship game against Bainbridge, a team that had dominated them twice in the regular season, including a crushing 52-28 loss. This time, however, the Spartans’ usual hot shooting was nowhere to be found, and the Roughriders took full advantage, leading 18-17 at halftime and 31-26 after three quarters. Teanna Clark was unstoppable inside and out, slashing to the paint while also stepping beyond the arc to hit three three-pointers on her way to 15 points. Lindsay Smith was just as dominant, leading all scorers with 18 points, seven of which came from the free-throw line. Lexie Smith added six points, Becca Manson chipped in four, and Morgan Politika added a free throw. As the final buzzer sounded, the Roughriders celebrated by cutting down the nets at Mount Tahoma, posing for pictures with their hard-earned district championship trophy.
Roughriders Mikkhia Stevens and Morgan Politika were all smiles on the KONP postgame show after their thrilling 48-44 upset over Eatonville.
Roughrider Teanna Clark joined the KONP Newsradio postgame show after leading Port Angeles to a 44-36 victory over Bainbridge in the district championship. Clark was outstanding, scoring 15 points.
Now standing at 17-6, the Roughriders received more good news when they were awarded the No. 10 seed in the state tournament. They will face No. 15 Cedarcrest (17-7) on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the University of Puget Sound. A win would send them to the Yakima SunDome, where they would face the loser of the No. 7 Columbia River vs. No. 2 Ellensburg matchup on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
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Meanwhile, the Sequim boys rebounded from a tough 52-38 loss to No. 2 Franklin Pierce on Friday night by defeating Port Angeles 56-46 to earn their own spot in the Sweet 16 Regional. Against Franklin Pierce, the Wolves struggled offensively, their shooting as cold as the nearby Nisqually Glacier. The Cardinals’ extended 1-2-2 zone defense stifled Sequim, and though the Wolves managed to stay within six points late in the game, Franklin Pierce always had an answer to keep them at bay.
Saturday’s game against their archrival, Port Angeles, was a gritty battle, just as their two previous meetings had been. The Wolves led by four to seven points for most of the night, but the Roughriders fought back, cutting the lead to three with just three minutes to play. In the end, though, Sequim’s dynamic duo of Jericho Julmist and Solomon Sheppard proved too much. Julmist put on an All-State-worthy performance, scoring 29 points, while Sheppard added 12. Mason Rapelje contributed six, Zeke Schmadeke had four, and Ethan Melnick, who had scored 12 against Franklin Pierce, finished with three.
For Port Angeles, Gus Hallberg fought hard for his 16 points, while Brock Hope scored seven. Blake Sohlberg knocked down three three-pointers to finish with nine, Keatyn Hoch added six, and Mathew Miller, Alex Angevine, and Brody Pierce each chipped in two. As the final seconds ticked away, the Roughrider fans rose to their feet, giving an emotional standing ovation to seniors Gus Hallberg, Blake Sohlberg, Keatyn Hoch, and Alex Angevine in their final high school game.
The Wolves, like the Roughrider girls, also received positive news, earning the No. 9 seed in the state tournament. They will take on No. 16 Lindbergh on Friday at 6 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound. A win would send them to Yakima, where they would face the loser of the No. 1 Lynden vs. No. 8 Mark Morris game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Wolves have reason for optimism, as they previously defeated Lindbergh 63-44 in their season opener.
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In NWAC action, the Peninsula Pirates men’s team pulled off a thrilling 83-81 comeback victory over Everett, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit. Jaiden Blackmon led the way with 20 points, followed by Deshawn Rushmeyer with 17, Isaiah Lopez with 16, Akeem Sulaiman contributing 11 off the bench, and Antonio Odum adding 10. With just one league game remaining, the Pirates have a chance to clinch fourth place in the Northern Conference and secure their spot in the NWAC tournament with a win over Shoreline on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the third-ranked Peninsula women’s team continued their dominance, extending their winning streak to 20 games with a resounding 108-38 victory over Everett. Ciera Agasiva led the Pirates with 19 points, while Alecsis Smith recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Former Neah Bay Red Devil Ryana Moss chipped in 16 points, Lexi Mackey added 15, and former Sequim Wolf Jelissa Julmist had a monster game, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Peninsula College will celebrate Sophomore Night on Wednesday, with the men tipping off against Shoreline at 5 p.m. and the women following at 7 p.m. It promises to be a night filled with emotion and excitement as the Pirates look to close out their regular season on a high note.