PORT ANGELES — Coach Mike Knowles wanted a test for his solid Port Angeles girls basketball team.
Be careful what you ask for, though, as Class 4A Mt. Tahoma — one of the best teams in the state — put on a clinic with speed, size, pressure and outstanding long-range shooting Thursday night.
The T-Birds beat the previously undefeated Roughriders 78-48.
“That was a good match for us,” Knowles said. “I knew it would be a good test.
“I told the girls going in that I didn’t care what the score is, that we have to learn from this game and build on it for the postseason.”
The Riders were pressured for the whole game, hounded into many turnovers and wore down by physical play inside by the T-Birds’ 6-foot-7 post Jessi Williamson.
But what really hurt the Riders was senior guard Deborah Anderson, who came in averaging 34 points per game but ended up scoring 37.
She put up seven 3-pointers, many from 5 to 8 feet beyond the 3-point line.
“They are really quick and they put a lot of pressure on us for the whole game,” Knowles said.
Plus the T-Birds put the clamps down on Port Angeles scoring wizard Jessica Madison, holding her way below her average for only 10 points.
“They double-teamed her the whole game,” Knowles said. “She never got a good look.”
Picking up the slack, though, was Alison Knowles, who sank 18 points. Taylyn Jeffers added 12 points and she held Williamson to 10 points under the basket.
“Both Alison and Taylyn stepped up for us,” Knowles said. “Taylyn played their big kid really tough.”
The Riders take a short Christmas break and then host 2A power Renton on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.
“Renton played in the 3A tournament last year, and dropped down to 2A this year,” Knowles said.
“They have a strong program and I wanted to book a tough team.”
Mt. Tahoma 78, Port Angeles 48
Mt. Tahoma 17 18 24 19 — 78
Port Angeles 10 8 10 20 — 48
Individual Scoring
Mt. Tahoma (78)
Anderson 37, Lopez 4, Keys 9, Davis 3, Reed 8, Williamson 10, Johnson 2, Williams 5.
Port Angeles (48)
Kiah Jones 4, Knowles 18, Madison 10, Frazier 2, Rodocker 2, Jeffers 12.
Neah Bay 56, Crosspoint 37
BREMERTON — Cherish Moss scored 14 while her sister Cierra added 13 to help keep the Red Devils unbeaten Thursday night.
The Red Devils (7-0 overall) outscored Class 2B Crosspoint Academy 44-8 in the first half and cruised from there for the win.
Neah Bay 56, Crosspoint Acad. 37
Neah Bay 20 22 4 10 — 56
Crosspoint 4 4 19 10 — 37
Individual Scoring
Neah Bay (56)
Ch. Moss 14, Ci. Moss 13, Thompson 6, Murner 5, Tyler 5, Winck 5, Sones 4, Allen 4.
Crosspoint Academy (37)
Garguile 14, Mosey 13, Barton 6, Anderson 2, Lipka 2.
Boys Basketball Neah Bay 62, Crosspoint 59
BREMERTON — The Red Devils( 6-1) held off a late surge from the 2B Warriors to earn a nonleague victory Thursday night.
Senior Jimmy Jimmicum was one of three Red Devils in double figures, scoring 13 points, as Neah Bay overcame a 21-point night from Austin Hewett.
Neah Bay 62, Crosspoint Acad. 59
Neah Bay 18 16 14 14 — 62
Crosspoint 14 15 12 18 — 59
Individual Scoring
Neah Bay (62)
Smith 6, Jimmicum 13, Corne 8, Dulik 11, Doherty 12, Pascua 3, Monette 8, Unknown 1.
Crosspoint Academy (59)
Olson 8, Huber 6, Kreifels 14, J. Cooper 1, M. Cooper 9, Hewett 21.