BY OLY ARCHIBALD

SEQUIM — If local basketball fans loved Monday night’s Sequim-Bremerton boys basketball classic, you’re in luck! The athletic departments at both schools have decided to do it again—tonight at 5:00 p.m. at North Kitsap High School.

The game will determine the #1 and #2 seeds for the district tournament. Since both teams will receive a first-round bye on Saturday and won’t have to play until Wednesday, it made sense to both schools and the district tournament organizers to hold this playoff game.

The game will be broadcast live here on KONP Newsradio, with the Les Schwab Tires Pre-Game Show starting at 4:45 p.m. Oly Archibald and Joe Gladfelter will have the play-by-play.

Wolves Senior Ethan Melnick will return to North Kitsap tonight to face Bremerton for the 2nd time in 3 nights. Melnick ripped the Viking nets Friday night for 25 points in the Wolves blow out of the Vikings.

The district tournament seedings should be announced tonight.

Girls Action
With Bainbridge knocking off North Kitsap last night, 41-23, that Vikings loss gave the Roughriders sole possession of 2nd place in the Olympic League. The Roughriders are expected to receive the #3 seed and host a second-round district game Tuesday night. A win would advance them to a quarterfinal game at Foss High School next Thursday night.

Middle School Basketball
In middle school basketball action, Stevens traveled to basketball-crazy Neah Bay with split results.

The Stevens 7th graders continued their dominant season, defeating Neah Bay 45-18.

• Maddie Wright led the way with 17 points.
• Pepper McCaslin scored 12 points.
• Mila Johnson contributed 8 points.
• Mattie Dunning added 4 points.
• Mya Hill and Lucy Long each scored 2 points.

The Stevens 8th grade team was less successful, falling 26-8.

• Darcy Ring scored 4 points.
• Madisyn Wright had 2 points.
• Maelyn Benedict, Mattie Dunning and Skylar Wheeler each hit a free throw.

Stevens travels to Port Townsend today.

NWAC Action Tonight
The Peninsula Pirates host a doubleheader against Bellevue tonight.

• The men tip off at 5:00 p.m.
• The women play at 7:00 p.m.

The Pirate men jumped back into playoff contention with their thrilling 101-99 double-overtime win over 8th-ranked Edmonds. The Pirates (5-4) are just one game behind Bellevue (6-3) and tied with Edmonds (6-3) for 2nd place. The Pirates previously won a 70-68 thriller at Bellevue in their first meeting.

Pirate Freshman Jaiden Blackmon from Woodinville is coming off a 26 point performance against 8th ranked Edmonds

The 3rd-ranked Pirate women came from behind to defeat the Bulldogs 71-62. The Pirates have now won 16 straight games and stand at 9-0 in conference play and 17-2 overall. The Bulldogs remain a strong team at 6-3 in conference play and 14-10 overall.

Pirate Head Coach Allison Crumbs 3rd ranked Pirates look to win their 17th straight game tonight against a solid Bellevue team