By Oly Archibald

FORKS — The Port Angeles Roughriders girls’ basketball team used their size and athletic ability to secure their first win of the season, defeating a short-handed Forks team 44-26. The Spartans, missing two starters, remained competitive and trailed by just 10 points late in the third quarter.

The Roughriders took numerous shots to reach 44 points, with junior guard Lindsay Smith emerging as the standout player. Smith scored a game-high 19 points, providing a consistent offensive spark. Teanna Clark added 7 points, while Kenzie Moses and Lexie Smith each contributed 5. Freshman Sariah Doherty, the only freshman from a talented class to make the varsity squad, scored 4 points. Junior Becca Manson added 3 points while playing strong defense and dominating the boards. Junior Mikkhia Stevens, making her first career start, chipped in with a free throw.

Roughrider Junior Becca Manson on the KONP Newsradio post game show, earned her first varsity start against Forks last night

The Roughriders will host North Mason on Friday night in their Olympic League opener.

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The Roughriders bowling team fell to North Mason yesterday. Leila Franich led the team with a consistent 260 total. Lizzy Clark rolled a 247, and Kenadie Ring scored a 238. Single-game highs included Zoey Van Gordon’s 146 and Xoey Penn’s 145. The team travels to Bremerton on Thursday.

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In NWAC action, the Green River Gators, the No. 1 ranked team and defending champions, defeated the Peninsula Pirates 71-60. The Pirates trailed 40-34 at halftime but couldn’t close the gap. Akeem Sulaiman led Peninsula with 17 points, while Isaiah Lopez added 14 and DeShawn Rushmeyer scored 11. The Pirates will compete in the Edmonds Crossover Tournament on Friday, facing Grays Harbor at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KONP Newsradio.

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The Sequim Wolves girls’ basketball team opens their season tonight against Anacortes with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. Anacortes recently defeated Kingston 64-21. The game will air live on KONP Newsradio, starting with the Les Schwab Tires Pre-Game Show at 5:15 p.m. Oly Archibald and Joe Gladfelter will provide play-by-play coverage.

Wolves’ Senior Libby Turella (center) and Sophomore Gracey Chartraw (right) will need big years to give the Wolves a chance at post season play