By Oly Archibald
POULSBO — The Port Angeles Roughriders boys basketball team broke the long-standing “Poulsbo Curse” last night, knocking off the North Kitsap Vikings 68–51.
Longtime Roughrider fans in attendance couldn’t remember the last time Port Angeles had won on that floor.
Senior guard Brody Pierce made sure the streak ended. Pierce poured in 32 points, knocking down three three-pointers, and said afterward it was the highest scoring game of his career.
Roughriders Brock Hope and Brody Pierce on the KONP Newsradio postgame show. Hope scored 20 points, while Pierce poured in a career-high 32.
The Roughriders needed every bit of it. Port Angeles led by six to ten points for most of the night, but North Kitsap pulled within five early in the fourth quarter behind a 30-point performance from Vikings senior guard Justin Weigard.
From there, Port Angeles went inside consistently, lobbing the ball to Brock Hope for easy finishes off the glass. Hope finished with 20 points, while Hunter Flores added seven.
The Roughriders improve to 9–3 in league play and 11–6 overall. They travel to Sequim on Friday, then return home Tuesday night to host top-ranked Bremerton.
Roughrider head coach Kevin Ruble on the KONP Newsradio postgame show following Port Angeles’ rare road win at North Kitsap.
The Bremerton Knights are coming off an 84–41 blowout win over Bainbridge, on Bainbridge’s home floor. Jalen Davis returned to the lineup for Bremerton after missing several games with an ankle injury.
You can hear Bremerton at Port Angeles Tuesday night on KONP Newsradio, with Greg Thomas and Joe Gladfelter on the call.
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On the girls side, the Port Angeles Roughriders—10–0 in league play, 12–5 overall—were pushed to the final minute before holding off North Kitsap 43–36.
Port Angeles trailed 23–19 at halftime and found the game tied 31–31 with 6:13 left. The Roughriders edged ahead 34–33 with 3:10 remaining and sealed it at the free-throw line late.
Lindsay Smith led Port Angeles with 12 points, Morgan Politika added 11, and Teanna Clark finished with eight.
The Roughriders travel to Sequim on Friday, then head to North Kitsap on Saturday for a 5:00 tip-off. That game will also be broadcast on KONP Newsradio.
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Roughrider swimming hosts its final home meet of the season today against Bremerton, beginning at 3:00.
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In NWAC basketball tonight, the Peninsula Pirates are on the road for a doubleheader at Skagit Valley.
The Pirate men tip off against the top-ranked Cardinals at 5:00, followed by the women’s game at 7:00.
Both teams are tied for first place in the Northern Conference at 6–0, and you can hear both broadcasts tonight on KONP Newsradio.
Skagit Valley Cardinals—and former Port Angeles Roughriders—Paige Mason and Parker Nickerson will face the Peninsula Pirates tonight in a game broadcast on KONP Newsradio.