TACOMA — Going up against the defending 2A state champions, the Port Angeles boys rallied in the third quarter, making a powerful Foss team a little nervous.
The Roughriders fell 76-50 to the No. 4-ranked team in the state in the second round of the West Central District playoffs, but coach Kasey Ulin said he is more confident than ever the Riders can make a deep run into the postseason.
The loss sends the Riders into the consolation bracket. Port Angeles will next play Lindbergh at Curtis High School in Tacoma at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Port Angeles fell behind 23-6 at the end of the first quarter and 42-20 at the end of the half. But, the Riders rallied in the third, at one point cutting the lead down to 12 points before Foss pulled away down the stretch.
Ulin said the Roughriders “were a little intimidated” at the beginning of the game against a team that hasn’t lost a game to a 2A opponent in two years. But, once the Port Angeles boys settled down, Ulin liked what he saw in the second half.
“You could see our guys really start to believe,” said Ulin. “We continued to fight, we won loose balls, we showed some perseverance.
“If we show that same determination, grit and effort, we’ll go on a [playoff] run,” Ulin said. “I’ve never been more confident in this team.”
The Riders played without Payton Schmidt, a 6-5 forward who can really shoot, who was out sick. Schmidt is shooting 50 percent on his 3-pointers this year
Kyle Benedict hit four 3-pointers and led the team with 17 points. Liam Clark had 12 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks. “He had a monster game,” said Ulin. Garrett Edwards added eight points and Colton McGuffey six.
Leading the Falcons were Demetrius Crosby and Micah Pollard, who each scored 25.
Ulin expects Schmidt back for the Lindbergh game.
Lindbergh is just 11-11 on the year, but the Eagles play in the tough 2A South Puget Sound League, so that record might be misleading. The Eagles’ RPI is No. 36 in the state, compared to Port Angeles’ No. 28 ranking.
Port Angeles (14-8) is now in loser-out territory for the rest of the district playoffs. The Riders have to win three straight to qualify for state. If the Riders win Wednesday, they next play Friday at Bellarmine Prep High in Tacoma against the winner of Clover Park (14-8) and Steilacoom (10-12).
Foss 76, Port Angeles 50
Foss 6 14 21 9 — 50
PA 23 19 15 17 — 76
Port Angeles (50) — Benedict 17, Clark 12, Edwards 8, McGuffey 6, Joslin 3, Long 2, Kathol 2.
Foss (76) — Pollard 25, Crosby 25, Kelly 7, Massey 6, Sarter 5, Santa-Cruz 3, St. John 2, Marlier 2, Barnes 1.
