KINGSTON — The Bucs were down only four entering the second half against Sequim, but early foul trouble and a full-court press kept their offense at bay just as the Wolves sharpshooters were heating up.
Nate Despain’s game-high 25 points helped Sequim pull away in the second half to a 53-38 victory over Kingston, Jan. 3 at Kingston.
The Wolves played their usual brand of pedal-to-the-metal basketball, but really turned up the intensity in the second half, swarming to the ball in their half-court defense and not giving a single inch in their press.
It was problematic for a young Kingston team that lost nine players last season. First-year head coach Jason Boyd called the team a “work in progress” as the players continue to get familiar with one another in how they move with and without the ball.
“Knowing where you’re going right away is a huge difference-maker,” Boyd said.
The Wolves reeled off nine consecutive points to begin the second half, including a 3-pointer from Riley Cowan, who finished the game with 12. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Bucs were down 10. And although Mitch McDaniel cut the lead to eight to start the final frame, Kingston never drew any closer.
“We need to learn how to carry the energy we bring to the first half with us into the second half and learn how to keep up that intensity, learning how to still maintain that intensity at both ends of the floor,” Boyd said. “For my part, I will do what I can in terms of conditioning and getting us more organized.”
However, the Bucs quickly found themselves in foul trouble in the third, putting them on their heels defensively. By midway through the third quarter, Kingston was already in the bonus and it was in the double bonus early in the fourth. Sequim was only 12-for-23 from the charity stripe, but the sheer number of opportunities helped build its lead.
Kingston jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of jumpers by junior guard Kobee Hunt and two free throws by sophomore Jack Hermanson.
Hunt had the hot hand for Kingston all night, scoring 16 points, but he found himself part of the aforementioned foul trouble in the second half and had to spend some time on the bench. He drilled three 3-pointers in the second quarter to give his team a 17-11 lead, but Sequim rallied back.
Despain struck for 14 points in the second quarter, punctuated by a steal that led to an easy breakaway layup to put the Wolves ahead 25-20. Kingston’s Kynoa Sipai hit the front-end of a one-and-one to cut the deficit to a single point, but Sequim’s Michael Young answered with a long 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
Sequim 6 21 12 14 — 53
Kingston 8 15 6 9 — 38
Sequim (53) – Despain 25, Cowan 12, Glasser 8, Whitney 4, Young 3, Christiansen 1.
Kingston (38) – Hunt 16, Vallejo 6, Calloway 4, Hermanson 4, Sipai 4, Hale 2, McDaniel 2.
— Mark Krulish is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at mkrulish@soundpublishing.com.
