PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles will lean on its youth and depth and work toward a rapid acclimation in what projects to be a crowded Olympic League boys basketball playoff chase this winter.
“A bunch of newcomers,” coach Kasey Ulin said of the Roughriders’ roster composition.
“We have five sophomores with us, Brock, Danny, Ashton, John and Abe, and just one guy [senior guard Gus Halberg] with legitimate varsity experience. Gus is the only guy who’s been in a battle in the fourth quarter on varsity.”
Halberg could be the next Port Angeles guard to make a leap his senior season similar to recent players Gary Johnson and Kason Albaugh.
“He’s gotten bigger and stronger and we’re hoping like some of the guys in the past they take that next step up as a leader, on the floor and at practice,” Ulin said.
Halberg will be joined in the Riders’ backcourt by senior Alex Angevine.
“Alex has been really surprising us with his effort, competiveness and maturity,” Ulin said.
Soccer standout Matthew Miller also has plenty of talent on the hardwood.
“He’s a high-character kid and one of our captains like Gus and Alex,” Ulin said.
Coming into the season healthy is a change for senior Blake Sohlberg and junior Hunter Flores.
“Blake looks like a senior, he’s grown and matured,” Ulin said. “He’s healthy and he has dealt with injuries that have slowed him at the start of the last couple years. He competes, great defensively and is a great shooter.”
“Hunter Flores is a big piece of what we are going to do. He’s healthy, he’s coming into his own and playing with confidence. He can shoot, pass, is physical, defends multiple positions and is a rebounder.”
Senior Keatyn Hoch also will be in the mix.
“He’s been a bit of a hard-luck case,” Ulin said. “Keatyn got sick sophomore year, junior year he had a bad ankle sprain took him 6-8 weeks to recover. He’s healthy, he put on 10 pounds on his frame and he’s another high-character kid.”
Sophomore Abe Brenkman grew to 6-foot-5 in the last year and has been impressive in practices.
“Abe is like our Ben Gregg [Gonzaga’s senior leader]. He does everything right all the time. He’s coachable, smart, does everything we want. He grew, he’s strong and he’s a Rider.
Sophomore Brock Hope is listed at 6-foot-9 and Ulin said Port Angeles will continue to work to develop his game.
“This will be his first varsity run and he’s getting better each day,” Ulin said. “He can be a double-double guy for us. He’s developing defensively and can be a rim protector who challenges shots for us.”
Ulin said the team will mix and match to learn each players’ potential.
“Rotations and starting lineups will change and will be different than the last five or six years,” Ulin said. “It’s a lot different with a less-experience team, we have to be patient as a staff and communicate. We’re going to be figuring things out as we go through the season. As a coaching staff we will have to evolve as the players respond.”
Ulin said the Olympic League may be the best its been in decades this winter.
“Bremerton is maybe the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the state,” Ulin said. “North Kitsap has a new coach, but they are still super talented. Bainbridge is a state-quality team. Sequim has their best team in a decade, Olympic is similar to Sequim and North Mason and Kingston are solid.”
Port Angeles Roughriders
• Head coach: Kasey Ulin
• 2023-24 record: 16-8 overall, 11-3 Olympic League (second). Lost in Bi-District Tournament.
• Returners: Gus Halberg (Sr., G, 6-0); Alex Angevine (Sr., G, 5-11); Blake Sohlberg (Sr., G/F, 6-2); Matthew Miller (Jr., G, 6-0); Keatyn Hoch (Sr., F, 6-3).
• Newcomers: Ashton Gedelman (So., G, 5-9); Daniel Benoit (So., G, 6-1); Jude Wallace (Jr., G, 5-10); Hunter Flores (Jr., F, 6-2); John Ruddell (So., F, 6-4); Abe Brenkman (So., F, 6-5); Brock Hope (So., F, 6-9).
• Strengths: “Our unity and the depth we have is something we will lean on,” Ulin said. “It will be different guys having their night and to encourage their teammates when its their night and they will need each other and to rely on each other.”
• Working on it: Team must develop its own identity — and soon — against a tough schedule in nonleague and league play.
• Outlook: Roughriders should be in the mix for a district playoff berth.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
