by Marty Zier
Sports contributor
The Lady Vikings had a busy post-holiday schedule, bunching up three non-league games in a row, winning two out of three.
Orcas traveled to 1A Cedar Park Christian Bothell and lost 71-60 to the larger school. Despite the loss, Coach Gregg Sasan said it was a good game.
“They had some really good, tall players and we hung in with them and scored 60 points,” he said. “Turnovers killed us, but we shot well. Our buckets are finally starting to drop.”
Scoring was Katy Minnis 17, Jessie Nichols 12, Portia White and Lindsay Simpson 9 each, Maia Lewis-Shunk 7, Flora Lister 3, Journey Howden 2 and Brittney Kern 1.
The next day the Lady Vikings hosted Clallam Bay from the North Olympic 1B Leauge and pulled out a 74-59 win. The Lady Vikings opened the game, hitting outside shots appearing to control the court until they fell flat later in the first quarter. Coach Gregg Sasan took some responsibility for how the game went.
“It was my mistake; I over-substituted early and too quick instead of sticking to the game plan,” he said. “ “We wanted to do our press, because that’s something we really need to work on and focus on our defense. We did get into foul trouble late in the game. We talk about moving our feet, not reaching with our hands. We had a strong fourth quarter. We pushed the ball up the court more because we have the talent and the speed”
Scoring was Minnis 27, Lewis-Shunk 19, Nichols 8, Howden 7 and Lister and White 2 each.
The Vikings ended the week with an overtime road win against the 1A Coupeville Wolves, 47-44.
“Our defense started to pick it up, but they began to seal us off and make easy points, so we changed up,” said Sasan. “It was a game of momentum shifts and turnovers. We cause more turnovers than we had. We were successful getting the ball in low to Jessie Nichols and Portia White. They were double-teaming them, but the Wolves had a hard time and got into foul trouble.”
This week the Vikings played the Darrington Loggers at home on Tuesday and the Wolverines in Friday Harbor on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:15 p.m. The Vikings then play at Concrete on Jan. 16 at 4 p.m.
The boys’ Viking basketball team split the holiday break with a win against Coupeville Wolves and loss against Meridian.
Coach Corey Wiscomb’s team had control of the 1A Wolves from the start, leading as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter, winning 69-53.
“We are really improving as a team,” he said. “Weaknesses are becoming strengths and the strengths we have are shining even brighter. Scoring is spreading out amongst the team so opponents cannot focus solely on stopping one player, and our defense as a team is starting to shine. A highlight was sophomore Max Clark-Mattila finding the rhythm of how to defend a top scorer. It took a few rotations and then Max found the groove with his speed and tenacity. He held the Wolves’ top dog to minimal touches of the ball. Scoring is necessary but a role player like that on defense is extremely valuable to a team and he’s going to see minutes on the floor because of it.”
Wiscomb’s senior core did its job as well.
“The trio of Vanya Bullock, Hayden Simpson, and Yusuf Duni continue to be a tour de force as they accounted for 44 points between them, despite barely playing in the fourth quarter,” he said. “As each of them is recovering from an injury of one sort or another, it’s fantastic to see them healthy and firing on all cylinders. That’s what we want as we move towards the big league games and hopefully the district playoffs later.”
Scoring was Bullock 19, Duni 14, Simpson 11, Kellen Maier 7, Clark-Matilla 6, Ciaran O’Neill 4, Holmes 4, and Garrett Ballanger, 3.
The Viking men traveled to Meridian High School and lost to the Trojans 80-39 on Jan. 6.
This week the Vikings hosted the Darrington Loggers at home on Tuesday and travel to Friday Harbor for a matchup against the Wolverines on Friday, Jan. 12 at 5:45 p.m. The Vikings then play at Concrete on Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
