Photo:  Roughriders placed 2nd at Olympic League bowling tourney. Left to right: Sophie Constant, Kenadie Ring, Paige Pangro, Abby Robinson, Taylor Worthington, Natalie Robinson and Zoey Van Gordon

SILVERDALE — The tension was high at the mean bowling Lanes of East Silverdale. Roughrider freshman Zoey Van Gordon was about to get her first taste of an Olympic league bowling tournament.  The stakes were high for Van Gordon and her 6 rookie teammates. When Van Gordon was seen grabbing her peppered beef jerky and her cannister of potatoes chips out of her bowling bag and eating her high-protein and high-energy snacks between throws, bowling aficionados had to wonder if Van Gordon was on to something. All the freshmen did was go on to bowl a 421, way above her average, that placed her 6th overall and was a big-time factor in the Roughriders finishing a stunning 2nd place at their first Olympic League tournament.

Head coach Becky Gundersen was elated: “The girls saved their best bowling of the year for the tournament and are peaking at the right time”.

The team now qualifies for the West Central District 3 Tournament January 28th at Paradise Lanes.  The Roughriders bowled their season high of a 704 and a baker score of 161. The leader of the Green Machine all year long, Abby Robinson, finished 5th overall with a 3-game score of 426. Page Pangro finished 8th, scoring way above her average with a 410. The Roughriders finished 2nd only to Klahowya who had bowlers good enough to be on ABCs the Wide World of Sports. The only question left is: will Zoey Van Gordon’s peppered jerky and potato chips become a new culinary delight at bowling tournaments everywhere.

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In high school basketball action, the Roughrider boys had a slow start trailing Olympic 11-9 after the first quarter but then outscored Olympic 51-16 the rest of the way for the 60-27 win. Parker Nickerson hit for 21 and Isaiah Shamp had 18 points. The Sequim boys travel to North Kitsap tonight. You can hear that game on KONP Newsradio with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm. Oly Archibald and Joe Gladfelter will have the play by play.

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In girls action the Roughriders knocked off Olympic 45-15.

The 2nd ranked Sequim Wolves earned a good win over North Kitsap 64-49. Jolene Vaara led the way with 20 points, but the big story was forward Libby Turella who scored all of her 14 points in the 4th quarter including three, 3-point shots.. Jelissa Julmist hit for 12 points and Sammy Bacon had 8 points.

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In NWAC action Peninsula will host Olympic tomorrow in a doubleheader with the women tipping off at 2 pm.

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In a huge boys high school game, the Roughriders will host 4th ranked and undefeated Renton at 3 pm tomorrow.  You can hear that game on KONP Newsradio.