FORKS — The Forks girls basketball team, playing shorthanded with a pair of starters out, hung tough early with Port Angeles, getting a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers from Alyna Centeno to hold a lead late in the quarter.
But the trademark tough Port Angeles defense took over, holding the Spartans to just 16 points over the final 27 minutes of the game for a 44-26 Roughriders victory.
The Riders’ Lindsay Smith had a monster game and showed she is going to be a force this season with 19 points and 18 rebounds, 12 of them on the offensive end.
“Lindsay Smith had a great night on the offensive boards and scored almost half her points off [offensive] rebounds,” said coach Michael Poindexter. “Mikkhia Stevens and Teanna Clark played outstanding defense in our 1-3-1 zone, each picking up five steals. Lindsay Smith and Becca Manson also had strong defensive games.”
The Riders forced 34 turnovers while committing just 18.
Forks played without important starters Chloe Gaydeski and Fynlie Peters.
“They’re athletic and have great length. They gave us trouble with their zone defense,” Forks coach David Hurn said. “We didn’t give ourselves opportunities. Way too many turnovers.”
Hurn said Brooklyn Rondeau, an eighth-grader, played well filling in during her first high school varsity game.
Forks held a 10-9 lead with Centeno hitting her threes and Avery Dilley and Karee Neel scoring. The Riders went on a 10-0 run to take a commanding 19-10 lead, but baskets from Neel and Dilley cut the lead down to 19-14. The Spartans looked like they were going into the half down just five points, but the Riders’ Kenzie Moses hit a clutch 3-pointer with two seconds left in the half to take a 22-14 lead into the break.
In the third, the Riders opened the lead up to 31-16 and never looked back.
Clark scored seven, while Kenzie Moses scored five and Lexie Smith five. Manson had four steals.
Leading Forks was Dilley, Centeno and Bailey Johnson, who all scored six. Johnson also hit a 3-pointer.
Port Angeles (1-0) has a busy first week, hosting North Mason (1-0) for its Olympic League opener at 5:15 p.m. Friday. They then host two-time defending 1B state champion Neah Bay at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Spartans (0-1) play at Onalaska at 7 p.m. today.
Port Angeles 44, Forks 26
PA 15 7 12 10 — 44
Forks 10 4 6 6 — 26
Port Angeles (44) — Lindsay Smith 19, Clark 7, Moses 5, Lexie Smith 5, Doherty 4, Manson 3, Stevens 1, Alward, Moses.
Forks (26) — Johnson 6, Dilley 6, Centeno 6, Neel 4, Rondeau 2, Woody 2.
Oakville 55, Crescent 32
JOYCE — The Oakville girls basketball team got off to a hot start against Crescent, going on to win 55-32.
Oakville got up 21-5 in the first quarter. Crescent played much better in the second and third quarters, outscoring the Acorns 22-21.
“We were down 10 in the third quarter, we just ran out of gas. They had a lot more players,” said coach Brian Shimko. “Considering our group of eighth-graders, that’s not bad.”
Shimko said the team also has to work on its free-throw shooting as the Loggers shot 6-for-23 from the free-throw line.
“We left 17 points on the floor,” he said.
The Loggers were led by Naomii Sprague with 23 points to go along with six steals. She is averaging 26 points a game so far this season.
Mariella Kneiss, an eighth-grader, hit a pair of 3-pointers for six points.
Oakville 55, Crescent 32
Cres. 5 13 9 5 — 32
Oak. 21 9 12 13 — 55
Crescent (32) — Sprague 23, Kneiss 6, Hopper 2, Chester 1.
Boys Basketball Oakville 63, Crescent 60
JOYCE — Despite a big game from Crescent’s Henry Bourm, the Oakville boys basketball team was able to get a couple of clutch late baskets to hold off the Loggers 63-60.
“It was a tremendous game. Nobody got out to more than a six-point lead at any point,” said coach Chris Ferrier. “Oakville was able to get two big buckets in the last minute and a half and nipped us at the end.
“We played with terrific composure in the third quarter and most of the fourth. We had some issues at the end of the ball game with execution that totally fall on my shoulders as the coach. I’ve gotta have us prepared for everything and we weren’t there yet,” Ferrier said.
Bourm led the Loggers with 23 points, while Josh Noel had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Mikah Love scored 10 and Levi Bourm had six assists.
The Crescent (1-1) boys and girls (1-1) next have road doubleheaders against Darrington on Friday night and Concrete on Saturday afternoon.
Oakville 63, Crescent 60
Oak. 12 14 21 16 — 63
Cres. 14 12 23 11 — 60
Crescent (63) — Love 10, D. Sprague 8, Lium 4, H. Bourm 23, Noel 15, L. Bourm, J. Sprague, Chartier.
Girls Bowling
PORT ORCHARD — The Port Angeles bowling team dropped its match against a tough North Mason team on Tuesday.
Leilah Franich proved to be the most consistent bowler with a two-game total of 260 (135/125). Lizzy Clark posted a two-game total of 247 (133/114) and Kenadie Ring added a 238 (135/103).
Single-game high scores included Zoey Van Gordon with a 146 and Xoey Penn with 145. The Riders travel to Bremerton today.
