PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend girls survived a scare last week.
On Friday, they completely avoided one.
The Redskins quickly built a big lead and then continued adding to it, dealing rival Chimacum a 68-23 beating on the opening day of the Crush in the Slush Tournament at Port Townsend High School.
“That’s more like it. That’s the team I’ve been watching all year,” Port Townsend coach Randy Maag said of the Redskins, who played much better on both ends of the floor.
They scored 41 points in their 41-40 win in the first meeting. On Friday, they had nearly that many at halftime.
Defensively, they held the Cowboys to almost half their total of the week before.
Maag said the improved offense begat better defense.
“We shot better in this one, obviously,” he said.
“Defensively, we had really, really good energy.
“Nothing like making a few shots. It gives you more energy and you seem to play better defense.”
Jewel Johnson and Codi Hallinan led the Redskins with 15 points each.
Johnson kept Port Townsend playing at a fast pace on offense, which kept Chimacum scrambling.
“Jewel is tough to slow down,” Chimacum coach Trevor Huntingford said.
“She is as good as any guard in the Nisqually League, and I know Randy [Maag] thinks she is one of the best guards in the Olympic League — and there are a lot of good guards in that league.
“I’m impressed.”
Irina Lyons contributed 11 points and Enani Rubio finished with eight for the Redskins, who had nine players score in the win.
While the Redskins played much better, Chimacum coach Trevor Huntingford said the Cowboys didn’t play nearly as well as they did in the first meeting.
“[Port Townsend] played more like we expected them to play [than last week], but likewise we did not play very smart,” he said.
“I don’t know that it would have affected the outcome of the game, but it wouldn’t have been a blowout — at least not like that.”
Chimacum’s tallest player, Hailee Johnson, was limited due to illness. Less than an hour before the game, Huntingford wasn’t even certain Johnson would play.
Her diminished role put most of the responsibility of defending the 6-2 Hallinan on Lauren Thacker.
A bright spot for the Cowboys was the outside shooting of Audrey Thacker. The freshman led the Cowboys with eight points, most coming on long-range jumpers. Her sister Lauren contributed seven points.
Port Townsend 68, Chimacum 23
Chimacum 4 6 4 9— 23
Port Townsend 18 19 18 13— 68
Individual scoring
Chimacum (23)
A. Thacker 8, L. Thacker 7, Cossell 1, Snyder 3, Sutherland 4.
Port Townsend (68)
Johnson 15, Rubio 8, Rutenbeck 6, Lyons 11, Hossack 6, Reeves 3, Hallinan 15, Lee 2, Meek 2.