PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles boys basketball coach Kasey Ulin is taking a sensible approach to this season with a heavy emphasis on defense.
His methods bore fruit in a 52-33 season-opening victory at home against Port Townsend on Wednesday.
The Roughriders controlled the contest from the opening tip, playing with a defensive intensity that helped force the Redhawks into missing their first nine shots.
“I liked that offensively we were moving the ball and attacking some gaps,” Ulin said.
“But for us, for the first couple weeks, defense is going to have to carry us until we can get better execution-wise and just get more overall continuity offensively.”
Port Angeles guard Grayson Peet, the game’s leading scorer with 15 points, also pointed to the team’s effort on defense as the primary factor in the win.
“The defense. That’s what we’ve been hanging our hats on since day one,” Peet said.
“Coach has been focusing on our work on defense every day in practice and tryouts. And that’s because we know the offense can get rolling but defense is where we will win games.”
The Riders blanketed their Port Townsend counterparts, forcing six turnovers in the first quarter.
“We’ve taught them this year to contain the ball,” Ulin said.
“We want an arm’s distance away and constant pressure.
“The longer we can contain the basketball the better because nobody has to help.
“We’ve spent more time this year on rotations, help-the helper, because we want our rotations to be spot-on every time. And they looked pretty good tonight.”
Janson Pederson subbed in midway through the opening period and scored the Riders’ final six points for a 9-3 lead after one quarter.
“We are going to start the young guy Colton [McGuffey] and get him a few minutes to get his confidence going,” Ulin said.
“But I have to have a player who I have confidence in off the bench. Somebody who is relaxed, somebody who is reliable.
“And Janson obviously was solid.”
Peet extended the lead when he intercepted a Port Townsend pass at midcourt and broke away for a layup.
He missed the short shot, but Port Angeles picked up the rebound and Peet hit a redemptive 3-pointer for an 18-6 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Redhawks trimmed the Riders’ advantage to 20-11 at halftime, and a bucket from post Kaiden Parcher put Port Townsend down 22-15 with 5:53 to go in the third quarter.
But the Redhawks defense allowed Noah McGoff to get loose for a 3-pointer on the next trip down court, forcing Port Townsend coach Tom Webster to call timeout.
The Redhawks were whistled for a shot clock violation coming out of the timeout.
That sequence seemed to sum up the night for Port Townsend.
“We need to execute better on offense, obviously,” Redhawks coach Tom Webster said.
“They are pretty athletic around the rim, and we have to keep working on the fundamentals, like boxing out to get second chances.”
Port Angeles’ Lambros Rogers then scored five straight points to put the game out of reach at 30-15.
Rogers finished with 11 points.
Peet knocked down a 3 at the end of the third quarter to give the Riders a 34-19 lead.
Port Townsend pulled within 11 twice in the fourth, but Peet answered with a 3-pointer each time to keep Port Angeles in control.
“We kinda got back in it a little bit, but Peet hit a couple 3s that were pretty big for them,” Webster said.
Peet said it took a little time before he was comfortable on opening night.
“It’s a struggle in the first game to get the confidence going and get the shots falling, especially with the nerves that come with starting the season,” Peet said.
“But you get into a rhythm and it’s contagious, the whole team starts to get hot and that’s awesome.”
The Riders were money from the field in the fourth quarter, hitting 8 of 12 shots.
Peet also made a point of getting the Riders’ student section involved, pointing to the fans after each successful 3.
“I love it when they are all out here and they are loud,” Peet said.
“It makes it so much more fun to play.”
Ulin liked what he saw from Peet.
“This is our second year together and we are on the same page, as far as understanding roles,” Ulin said.
“I told the guys Grayson has the keys to the offense.
“We are on the same page on when to take a shot and when to pass one up and set up the offense.
“And he can play.”
Ulin also praised sophomore Carson Shamp.
“We gave the game balls to Janson Pederson and Carson Shamp,” Ulin said.
“Carson came in in a real tight spot in his first varsity game and must have had four or five steals, a couple of key rebounds, a couple key putbacks.
“He’s interesting, because he’s a strong kid, and even though he’s not tall he can battle down low and play on the perimeter.”
Port Angeles (1-0) visits Chimacum on Thursday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
