Girls basketball: Vaara records triple-double in final regular season home game

To cap off Senior Night and her last regular season home game, Sequim’s Jolene Vaara recorded her first and possibly the Wolves’ first girls’ triple-double in school history in an 81-44 win on Feb. 1 over Olympic.

Vaara was “simply amazing,” SHS coach Joclin Julmist said, as she recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds (seven offensive), and 10 assists. She almost recorded a quadruple-double, with eight steals.

See more pictures from the game here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBcNZ5.

“I’m feeling very happy, very loved and I’m very glad to be with all my best friends today,” Vaara said after the game.

“Everyone played a great game.”

Sequim (10-3 in Olympic League, 12-4 overall) also saw strong contributions from Gracie Chartraw and Bobbi Mixon who both scored 21 points against the Trojans (3-9, 6-12).

Mixon, continued her hot streak from behind the 3-point line, with five 3-pointers, including a bank shot in the first quarter and four in the second quarter.

Chartraw recorded nine of her points in the fourth quarter, and had six rebounds and five steals in the game, while Libby Turella had 13 points, six steals and three blocks.

Vaara got her 10th assist late in the fourth quarter to freshman Clare Turella, who recorded her first varsity points with the bucket. Vaara said she doesn’t normally think about her stats and didn’t know she was close to a triple-double until coaches told her.

“I’m just glad I can help my team and pass on whatever lessons I can help them out with,” she said.

“I just want to leave an impact with them that will hopefully keep the program winning.”

Olympic’s Megan Krell kept the Trojans close with 11 points in the first quarter with Sequim up 19-14 after one and up 37-26 by halftime.

Sequim spent a large portion of the third quarter at the charity stripe, and Chartraw scored right before the end of the third to put Sequim up by 30 (65-35).

Sequim sophomore Rilynn Whitehead sunk a 3-pointer to finish the game before the shot clock to put Sequim up 81-44 at the end of regulation.

SHS bests Bucs for sweep

Sequim got a big game from the reigning Olympic League MVP in a 76-45 rout at Kingston on Jan. 30.

“The girls played as one tonight, they shared the ball and played hard,” Julmist said.

Vaara racked up 22 points (on 10-of-16 shooting), eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals as the Wolves dominated from start to finish.

“One of her best games of the season,” Julmist said.

Libby Turella sank half of her six 3-point tries and finished with 21 points.

“She worked really hard on both sides of the court,” Julmist said.

Chartraw had a solid all-around game with 15 points, six rebounds and team-highs in assists (eight) and steals (six).

“She did a great job looking for teammates and playing [tough] defense,” Julmist said of the freshman point guard.

Hailey Wagner,playing in the place of injured post Dani Herman, had six points and a team-high 12 rebounds, as Sequim out-worked the Buccaneers 43-22 on the glass.

Mixon added seven points and three assists. Raimey Brewer chipped in three points and four rebounds off the bench.

Looking ahead

The Wolves were scheduled to play 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.