PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend’s boys basketball team is playing stellar defense right now.
The Redskins held North Mason, tied for second place in the Olympic League, to eight points in the first half and stormed to a dominating 43-29 league victory Tuesday night.
“Our kids are playing good defense right now,” Port Townsend coach John Stroeder said. “We are flying to the ball.”
The Redskins, 5-8 in league and 7-10 overall have played consistently the last two games, according to Stroeder.
With three games left, Port Townsend has a good shot at the playoffs, Stroeder said.
“The kids are flying around and playing with more confidence,” Stroeder said.
Port Townsend led 11-4 at the end of the first quarter and 24-8 at halftime.
“We jumped on them early and never gave up the lead,” Stroeder said.
Junior center Jacob DeBerry led the Redskins’ balanced scoring attack with 12 points and he had a double-double with more than 10 rebounds.
“We have been real consistent the last two games,” Stroeder said.
DeBerry is really coming on, averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds the last two games, Stroeder said.
Eric Thomas added 10 points and Evan O’Brien sank nine points Tuesday.
The Redskins next play at Olympic in Silverdale on Friday.
Port Townsend 43, North Mason 29
North Mason 4 4 10 11 — 29
Port Townsend 11 13 7 12 — 43
Individual Scoring
North Mason (29)
Stockstead 8, Haniford 7, Burley 2, Fullerton 12.
Port Townsend (43)
Thomas 10, Rubio 2, Robinson 5, O’Brien 9, Hallinan 5, DeBerry 12.
Montesano 44, Forks 31
MONTESANO — Shooting woes and turnovers spelled disaster for the Spartans on Tuesday night on the road.
Forks could only manage 13 first-half points against the Bulldogs.
In the second half, Tyler Penn led the Spartans back from a 15-point deficit with four steals after the break to pull the team within five.
Still, Forks could never get over the hump.
Fernando Hernandez led the Spartans with eight points and seven rebounds.
Frank Noles had a poor night shooting but gathered 10 boards in the middle.
Forks hosts the No. 4-ranked Loggers of Onalaska on Thursday.
Montesano 44, Forks 31
Forks 6 7 9 9 — 31
Montesano 16 9 5 14 — 44
Individual Scoring
Forks (31)
Hernandez 8, Castellano 7, Decker 6, J. Penn 4, T. Penn 3, Noles 3.
Montesano (44)
McNeally 14, B. Benedict 9, Aldrich 6, Fry 7, Trimble 4, Tyler 2, J. Benedict 2.
Girls Basketball Montesano 47, Forks 28
MONTESANO — A 15-2 third quarter sank the Spartans, who hung tough with Montesano in the first half.
Montesano led only 19-15 at halftime but went into the final period with a 34-17 advantage.
“We did really well in the first half but we fell off in the third quarter,” Forks coach Dave Zellar said.
Mariah Dillard led the Spartans (2-8 in the Southwest Washington League) with seven points.
Forks next hosts Onalaska on Thursday night.
Montesano 47, Forks 28
Forks 8 7 2 11 — 28
Montesano 7 12 15 13 — 47
Individual Scoring
Forks (28)
Dillard 7, Kennedy 6, Morris 6, Williams 3, Horton 3, Decker 2, Raben 2.
Montesano (47)
Scores not available.
North Mason 49, Port Townsend 40
BELFAIR — The Redskins’ one-point third quarter hindered any potential comeback Tuesday night against the Bulldogs.
Port Townsend got off to a slow start, scoring just five points in the first period before settling in to make it a close game by halftime.
Caroline Dowdle led Port Townsend led in scoring with 13 points.
Della Fox added 12 while Brooke Little sank 7.
The Redskins host Olympic on Friday.
Norht Mason 49, Port Townsend 40
Port Townsend 5 15 1 19 — 40
North Mason 11 14 6 18 — 49
Individual Scoring
Port Townsend (40)
Dowdle 13, Fox 12, Little 7, Whipple 2, Evalt 2, Russell 2, Maag 2.
North Mason (49)
S. Ingwaldson 11, C. Ingwaldson 10, Stromberg 5, Hicks 5, Martin 5, Wiley 3, Anderson 10.