Three Sequim High seniors capped their prep careers with a pair of home games last week as the Wolves closed their 2015-2016 season short of a postseason berth.
After falling to Bainbridge the night before, Sequim dropped a 58-34 decision to the visiting North Kitsap Vikings, the Olympic League’s No. 3 team, on Feb. 2.
Sequim head coach Justine Wagner said her team had two simple goals in mind for Senior Night: start her trio of seniors and get the entire roster some playing time.
“We accomplished that,” Wagner said.
Senior guard McKenzie Bentz paced the Sequim offense with 12 points, hitting a pair of fourth quarter 3-pointers and six free throws.
“It didn’t end up how I hoped it would but we fight,” Bentz said. “I can always count on (my teammates) to go out and fight; that’s something I’ll miss about them.”
SHS junior post Adrienne Haggerty had a huge game inside against the Viking defense, going for 11 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and a block.
“They’ve got a good post player (in Haggerty),” NK head coach Penny Gienger said.
Raelee Moore led a balanced NK attack with 15 points and Adele Keller added nine to lead North Kitsap.
NK guard Olivia Selembo had a team-high four assists as the Vikings jumped out to a 16-4 lead after one quarter after forcing eight Sequim turnovers.
North Kitsap held a 29-12 lead at halftime and 42-17 after three quarters. Overall, NK forced the Wolves into 26 turnovers.
“I like the way my players passed the ball,” Gienger said. “They (Sequim) tried to switch up the defense in the second half but I liked the way they found the next player and the next with their passes.”
Other Sequim High seniors seeing their last action included Allysen Montelius, who had five points, four rebounds and two steals, and Jordan Miller, who struggled from the field (0-for-9 shooting) but paced a Sequim offense that out-scored North Kitsap 17-6 in the final quarter.
“We’re going to have to have people step up (with scoring) because that girl can put up the ball,” Wagner said of Miller, a 5-foot 5-inch point guard.
Montelius is a positive presence that will be missed next season, Wagner said.
“I had to convince her to come back to play basketball,” Wagner said. “She makes everyone around her happier — we needed that.”
Bentz, Wagner said, was a “strong leader on and off the court” for the Wolves this season.
“I’m hopeful for next season — three is not a big number to lose,” Wagner said.
For her part, Bentz is looking forward to playing softball with her sister Jordan to cap her prep sports career. But following the Feb. 2 game Bentz admitted, “I’m so not over basketball right now.”
Olympic League standings (final)
Team Lg. Over.
Port Angeles 11-2 18-3
Olympic 10-3 14-6
North Kitsap 9-3 12-7
Kingston 7-5 12-8
Bremerton 4-8 7-12
Sequim 2-10 6-13
North Mason 0-12 5-15
