By Oly Archibald
The Port Angeles Roughriders boys basketball team had one of the most successful years in the school’s history last season. Very few Roughrider teams have made it to state and brought home hardware as the Roughriders did last year, bringing back a 6th Place trophy in a brutally tough 2A state basketball tournament. The Roughriders lose 4 starters off that team and no one from the Olympic league will feel sorry for them. Actually there is no reason to feel sorry for the Roughriders as 9th year had coach Kasey Ulin has turned the Roughriders into a program that no longer rebuilds they just reload.
The Roughriders will have a solid athletic front line of 6’5″ Jr. Isaiah Shamp, 6’7″ Sr. Tyler Hunter and 6’3″ Jr. Parker Nickerson. 6’0″ Sr Isaiah Long will start at one guard spot. Long the outstanding kicker of the Roughrider football team has improved greatly according to Kasey Ulin and its easy to observe Mr Long has spent a lot of time in the Roughrider weight room as many of the Roughriders have. The other guard position is still up for grabs and Kasey Ulin says in this case it is a good problem to have. Bryant Hoch a 6’1″ Sr. Dallas Dunning a 6’4″ Jr and others are fighting for the final guard spot. Ezra Townsend the 6’0″ Jr Forward will come off the bench as he did last year as a top reserve.
The Roughriders will be a solid pre-season 2nd place pick behind North Kitsap for the Olympic league title. The Roughriders open at home Saturday night December 3rd with a 7 pm tip off against the Foster Bulldogs. That game will be broadcast live on KONP News Radio as part of a double header as the Roughrider girls tip off against state power WF West of Chehalis at 4:30, pm. Oly Archibald and Bill Bates will have the live play by play.
Picture: Tyler Hunter, Parker Nickerson and Isaiah Shamp will give the Roughriders a athletic front line.