LOCAL SPORTS: PA takes two hardwood matches against Sequim

By Oly Archibald

PORT ANGELES — After watching the Roughrider girls basketball team steam roll Sequim 74-46 last night to clinch the Olympic League, one has to wonder if Roughrider senior Page Mason has been watching longtime boyfriend and Rider hoop star Parker Nickerson shoot the ball or has Parker been watching Page and taking notes.

Mason once again had a career night in her last Olympic League game at home. Mason, always the enforcer and the intimidator inside for the Roughriders, hit for an incredible 26 points. Mason scored from everywhere on the floor including three 3-point shots. She was not the only Roughrider playing like an NWAC recruit.

Sophomore Lindsay Smith hit for 16 points with three 3-point shots. Big sister Lexie was just 2 points behind with 14 points. Point guard Izzy Felton, the one Roughrider the Wolves defense was trying to stop, once again broke down the Wolves’ defense in the first half and then totally destroying it in the 2nd half. Felton scored 12 points on the night, with most of those points coming in the last 10 minutes of the game when the Wolves were out of gas. Sequim, with some hot shooting, kept the game close trailing by 4, 21-17 after the first quarter and down 38-28 at the half. The Roughriders scored the first 9 points of the 2nd half and the Wolves never recovered. Jolene Vaara led the Wolves with 16 points and Gracie Chartraw hit for 15 points.

The Wolves, at 10-4 in the league and 12-5 overall, will wait until Sunday afternoon to find their seed in the district tournament. They will probably be a #5 seed going on the road to face the #4 seed in a winner to the Regionals game and the loser would have to win 2 straight games to get to the Sweet 16 Regional.

The Roughriders (12-1;14-6) should be the #2 seed and host the #7 seed in a winner to the Regionals game next Wednesday night. They would be at least two touchdown favorites in that game.

Roughrider seniors Page Mason and Izzy Felton celebrate their Olympic league championship on the KONP Newsradio Post Game show. Mason had a career high of 26 points and Felton hit for 13 points

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The Roughrider boys once again just had too much size and muscle for Sequim, beating the Wolves 75-61. However, give the young Wolves some credit for being competitive the entire game and never giving up. The game showed its true rivalry with lots of chirping going on and a double technical foul called. Right before the 2nd half the officiating crew talked to both coaches together and the rest of the game was not nearly as emotional or spirited.

The Roughriders led after the first quarter 21-10 and 40-26 at the half.

The Wolves had no answer inside against Roughrider Senior Isaiah Shamp who had 22 points. Parker Nickerson hit for 15 points, Junior Blake Sohlberg came off the bench for the best game of his career hitting for 9 points. Guards Kason Albaugh and Gus Halberg hit for 7 points and Dallas Dunning had 6 points.’

The Wolves showed there is a lot of young talent and the future looks bright. Sophomore Solomon Sheppard, despite being in foul trouble, hit for 20 points. Freshman Mason Rapolje another highly talented youngster had 12 points. Keenen Green hit for 9 points. Charlie Grider scored 7 points and Ethan Melnick had a solid overall game scoring 6 points. The Wolves 5-9 10-9 should be a 10 or 11 seed meaning they start in the losers bracket and must win 3 straight games to get to the Regional. They would host that game Tuesday night.

The Roughriders (10-3; 13-6) should be around a #5 seed depending on if they can beat 7th ranked Bremerton Thursday night.

The district drawings are Sunday morning.

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There is NWAC action tonight as the Pirates have a double header at Whatcom in Bellingham. The 4th ranked women (7-0; 14-2) tip off at 5:00 while the 9th ranked Pirate men (5-2; 12-9) tip off at 7:00. Both games can be heard live on KONP Newsradio with the Les Schwab Tires pre-game show starting at 4:45.