Girls basketball: Sequim sweeps aside NK, North Mason

Behind some sharp shooting from guard Bobbi Mixon, Sequim’s girls basketball squad (8-3 in Olympic League, 10-4 overall as of Jan. 29) earned a pair of key Olympic League victories last week to further cement their top-three league standing behind Port Angeles (9-1 in league) and Bainbridge (9-2).

On Jan. 23, Mixon drilled four of five 3-pointers and had four assists and five steals as Sequim won at North Kitsap, 66-51.

“Bobbi … did a good running the show,” Sequim coach Joclin Julmist said.

The Wolves led 16-10 after one quarter and 35-25 by halftime, pulling away for good in the third frame.

Freshman point guard Gracie Chartraw led the team with 21 points and had six steals, tied for the team lead with Jolene Vaara.

“[Gracie] played great defense tonight playing the passing lanes … and made some difficult shots going to the basket,” Julmist said.

Vaara had a solid game with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists to go with her half-dozen thefts.

Dani Herman paced the team with 10 rebounds.

SHS tops Bulldogs

Mixon continued her hot shooting streak and solid defense while Vaara had another all-around great game to help lead Sequim to a 73-66 victory at home over North Mason on Jan. 26.

Sequim had to play most of the game without Herman who rolled her ankle late in the first quarter, and Libby Turella briefly sat out after she was hit in the eye on a 3-point attempt late in the second quarter.

The game was more aggressive than the last time they played each other, Mixon said following the game. One parent was escorted out by school administration after yelling in frustration to the other team about Turella’s injury.

Hailey Wagner replaced Herman to give the Wolves a boost, Julmist said, with her recording 8 points and 8 rebounds.

Mixon led Sequim with 25 points sinking a perfect six for six on 3-pointers and snagging four steals.

Vaara recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds (8 offensive) along with 7 assists and 3 steals while shooting 9-13 from the free throw line.

The pair were “clutch,” Julmist said, and “wouldn’t let us lose.”

The pair helped Sequim come from behind late against the Bulldogs who trailed from early in the first quarter before inching their way to the lead in the second half with back-to-back-to-back buckets for the 37-36 lead. North Mason maintained the lead going into the fourth (49-46).

Mixon tied it up with a 3-pointer to start the quarter, however, and put the Wolves up for good (56-54) with another 3-pointer and 4:40 to play.

Chartraw hit her lone 3-pointer of the night on a tough shooting night to extend the lead to 61-54. Julmist said she stayed aggressive defensively with five steals and chipped in 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Turella nabbed seven rebounds and two steals while dishing out four assists.

North Mason went into the penalty midway through the fourth quarter and Sequim shot free throws down the stretch. The Bulldogs’ Adrianne Tupolo had the hot touch to keep it close scoring 12 of the Bulldogs’ 17 points in the fourth.

Looking ahead

The Wolves were scheduled to play at Kingston on Jan. 30; details were not available at press time.

Sequim hosts Olympic on Feb. 1 for its senior night before finishing the regular season at a doubleheader at rival Port Angeles on Feb. 6.

The West Central District tournament is set for Feb. 14-17 at varying locations, with six of the 16 teams qualifying for the class 2A state tournament.

The district title game is at Tacoma Community College on Feb. 17.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash With teammate Bobbi Mixon (right) looking on, Sequim’s Jolene Vaara goes up for a shot after grabbing an offensive rebound over North Mason’s Tanza Tupolo in an Olympic League match-up on Jan. 26.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Bobbi Mixon shoots and sinks one of her game high six three-pointers on Jan. 26 at home against North Mason.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Bobbi Mixon brings the ball up on Jan. 26 against North Mason.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sequim’s Gracie Chartraw goes for a shot on Jan. 26 against North Mason. Sequim won 73-66.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sydney Thomas-Harris shoots one of three free throws as a substitute for teammate Libby Turella after she was poked in the eye during a play. Sequim won 73-66 over North Mason.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Hailey Wagner snags a rebound over North Mason players on Jan. 26.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sequim’s Gracie Chartraw (4) drives Clara Galbraith (2) in a close 73-66 Sequim home win on Jan. 26 over North Mason.