PORT ANGELES — It was a senior recognition night to remember for the Port Angeles Roughriders boys basketball team.
A 30-5 Port Angeles run over the game’s final 10:31 propelled the Riders and seniors Luke Angevine, Noah McGoff and Grayson Peet past archrival Sequim 66-35 at home on Friday.
“We started hitting shots and it was contagious,” Angevine, who scored a team-high 20 points, said of the game-sealing run. “Everything started to go in.”
The three seniors have served as the core of the Port Angeles program for the past three seasons and all left the court to rousing rounds of applause after producing plays showcasing their strengths.
Peet collected a steal at halfcourt and raced toward the rim with Angevine trailing. Peet put up a pass off the backboard that Angevine collected and laid up and in with a high degree of difficulty.
McGoff, who had missed some good looks at the basket earlier in the game, connected on his last shot attempt, a 3-pointer from the right side, before exiting to applause.
And Angevine, who scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime, sealed his home career with a step-back, NBA-range 3-pointer to put Port Angeles up 30, 64-34.
“You couldn’t really draw it up any better for them,” Riders coach Kasey Ulin said.
“We get to play Sequim, we come out with a victory, we clinch a postseason spot and they all end on a make and a series of great plays.
“It was their night. Those three guys have done a lot for this program. From two years ago as sophomores when we were the ones taking the beatings to now.”
Ulin said the trio have put in the effort in season and in the offseason required to improve.
“They’ve sacrificed and worked and have been committed to this,” he said.
“Look at what we have coming up between our JV and our C squad and our younger players. We have a program built now. And those three, I’m just thankful for them.
“At times you almost take them for granted because of how easy they are to coach. They are always in the gym, they are consistent, they are good kids and fun to be around. And their character is so high.
“So, to end their home careers on a night like this is special.”
Sequim looked poised in the early going, leading 11-10 after one quarter and consistently sticking within range of the Riders through much of the third quarter.
A first-half rebounding advantage and gutsy play from junior Payton Glasser, playing on a sprained knee ligament, kept the Wolves hanging around.
Glasser finished with a game-high 21 points, but couldn’t get much assistance offensively from his teammates.
Port Angeles meanwhile, received strong play from a trio of sophomores in Kyle Benedict, Garrett Edwards and Liam Clark.
Benedict finished with 16 points and Edwards notched 12, six coming in the third quarter. Clark was held scoreless, but his 6-foot-6-inch frame protected the rim and kept Sequim from attacking the hoop.
“Garrett was good defensively, he rebounded the ball well and he scored the ball inside,” Ulin said.
“We were struggling to shoot from the perimeter and Kyle hit two or three 3s and I think he ended up with four. And he was making plays on defense and in transition. And Liam may not have scored tonight, but he does a lot that doesn’t show up in the box score as far as challenging shots, getting rebounds, getting tips and being a presence for us.
“Those three kind of helped us get a rhythm until the emotions went away and Luke and Grayson settled in and got their rhythm.”
Angevine said he’s come to expect strong performances from those underclassmen.
“They are always big,” he said. “They always step up when we need them and they are always reliable to go to when we need a basket.”
Ulin said improved rebounding, better defense and getting the ball inside for close-range buckets proved pivotal.
“Second half we were able to rebound better, get some inside shots, some easier shots and that always makes the basket look bigger.
“Defensively, we were more dialed in. We got some turnovers that led to some fast break points. And the 3-point shot started going down. I think we started 2 for 14, but we finished with five or six big 3s.”
The Riders’ run could have started even earlier in the third quarter if not for some turnovers.
“We had about six or seven unnecessary turnovers in the third quarter where we were not even getting shots, just turning the ball over and playing a little too quick,” Ulin said.
“An important thing was we slowed down a little bit, our movement was a little better in our sets and we moved the ball a little bit better and the shots started to fall. But it all comes back to defense and rebounding.”
Angevine said he’ll have fond memories of his final home game with McGoff and Peet.
“It’s always special to play with those guys,” Angevine said.
“We’ve played basketball since seventh grade and they’ve been my best friends ever since I can remember.”
Port Angeles 66, Sequim 35
Sequim 11 7 12 5— 35
Port Angeles 10 14 16 26— 66
Sequim (35) — Glasser 21, Whitney 4, Greenlow 3, Williams 2, Parrish 2, Cowan 1, Willis 1.
Port Angeles (66) — Angevine 20, Benedict 16, Edwards 12, Peet 9, McGoff 5, Kathol 2, Clark, Borde,
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
