BY OLY ARCHIBALD
YAKIMA — A magical season came to an end for the Sequim Wolves boys basketball team, which brought pride and unity to the Dungeness Valley. The Wolves fell in heartbreaking fashion, as state powerhouse Mark Morris outscored them 21-8 in the fourth quarter to secure a 69-59 victory.
Sequim led for most of the first three quarters, holding its largest advantage at 47-36. Sophomore Jericho Julmist was the standout player once again, scoring 28 points against a defense designed to stop him. Solomon Sheppard contributed 13 points, while sophomore Mason Rapelje had the best game of his career, providing a strong preview of his junior season. Rapelje was perfect from the field, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. Senior Ethan Melnick added six points and seven rebounds in a solid performance.
The Wolves finish their season with a 20-5 record and as one of the top 12 Class 2A teams in the state. They say goodbye to seniors Ethan Melnick, Jamison Gray, Brayden White, and Charlie Grider, who were key contributors throughout the year. However, with much of the team returning, Sequim is expected to be a strong contender alongside Bremerton for another Olympic League title and a return to the state tournament next season.
Port Angeles Roughriders Fall in Close Contest
The Port Angeles Roughrider girls basketball season also came to an end, as they fell behind early and couldn’t complete their comeback against Columbia River, losing 38-33. Turnovers proved costly once again, with the Roughriders committing 21 compared to Columbia River’s 13.
Port Angeles battled back, cutting the deficit to one point late in the game, but was unable to take the lead. Lindsay Smith led the Roughriders with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Lexie Smith added 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Teanna Clark scored six, heating up in the second half. Columbia River’s Marly Myers, a future Peninsula Pirate, led her team with 11 points and six rebounds.
The Roughriders end their season at 18-7 but return nearly their entire roster. On paper, they will be the favorites to win both the league and district championships next season.
Columbia River and future Peninsula Pirate Marly Myers joined the KONP Newsradio postgame show with Greg Thomas. Myers led the Rapids with 11 points in their low-scoring 38-33 win.
Peninsula Pirates Cruise to NWAC Quarterfinals
At the NWAC tournament in Pasco, the third-ranked Peninsula Pirates dominated Chemeketa, winning 66-44. The Pirates got off to a scorching start, leading 16-3 after the first quarter and 36-5 at halftime.
Ciera Agasiva led Peninsula with 15 points and seven rebounds. Lexie Mackey scored 11 points while controlling the glass with 16 rebounds. Shania Moanunu added eight points, and Alecsis Smith finished with seven points and 10 rebounds.
Pirate Head Coach Allison Crumb guided her team to a 66-44 victory over Chemeketa. Photo Courtesy Jay Cline
The Pirates now face South Puget Sound today at 2 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The Clippers, at 21-8, pulled off an upset over Big Bend, winning 57-45. The winner will advance to the Final Four on March 15 against either Lane or Green River.
Today’s game will be broadcast on KONP Newsradio, with the Les Schwab Tires Pregame Show starting at 1:45 p.m. Oly Archibald and Greg Thomas will have the play-by-play.
Pirate guard Ciera Agasiva led the way with 15 points in Peninsula’s 66-44 win over Chemeketa. Photo Courtesy Jay Cline