Vikings win some, lose some
Published 4:08 pm Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Girls’ team
by MARTY ZIER
Sports contributor
The Viking girls (12-5) hosted the LaConner Braves (15-4) in a home court loss 52-46 on Feb. 4.
The Vikings’ offense sputtered in the first quarter missing passes but sticky defense kept Orcas in the game trailing 13-10 after the first quarter.
Orcas managed a 14-14 tie early in the second but could not defend the fast breaking Braves driving the paint for easy layups. Offensively the Vikings forced passes, creating turnovers and leaving Orcas down 24-20 at half.
Outscored the Braves 20-10 in a monster third quarter, the Vikings pinnacled early with stingy defense, precise shooting and pinpoint passing that produced the necessary points in the paint, charging ahead with a 40-34 at the end of the third.
But unforced errors late in the game squashed the Viking momentum as the Braves outscored Orcas 18-6, taking advantage of their ability to get the ball in low and score. Orcas scoring was led by Bella Nigretto with 17, Hannah Gaydos 12, Shelbi Rogers 9, Alicia Susol 6 and Kilee Rogers 2.
On Feb. 7, the Vikings girls celebrated a senior game win 74-46 against the Darrington Loggers (14-5) at Orcas High School.
The crowd honored Orcas seniors Caitlyn Holley, Nigretto, Shelbi and Susol and their parents.
Controlling the game from the tip off, Orcas defense eliminated everything but perimeter shooting by the Loggers while the Viking offense scored from every area of the court advancing 36-18 at half. Complacency set in as the Vikings were outscored 18-14 in the third but the Vikings quickly got back on track outscoring the Loggers 24-10 in the fourth quarter to run away with a win.
Orcas scoring was led by Nigretto with 24, Shelbi 22, Gaydos 16, Susol 5, Kilee 5 and Halle Thompson 2.
Boys’ team
by JACK RUSSILLO
High school senior
After a weekend away from home, the Viking boys (4-10) returned to their home court to face the (15-5) LaConner Braves, losing 66-42 on Feb. 4.
The Vikings started slow, making only three baskets in the first quarter. Entering the second quarter down 20-6, the Vikings were able to make up some of the deficit before half outscored the Braves 13-10.
After a slow third quarter, the Vikings entered the fourth quarter trailing 46-28 but turned up the heat on the Braves going basket-for-basket for most of the quarter. Although capitalizing on free-throw opportunities and scoring 14 points in the quarter, the Vikings fell short.
Orcas scoring was led by Jack Gates with 17, Aidan Kruze 11, Pasha Bullock 10, and Miles Harlow 4.
On Feb. 7, the boys won 58-52 against the (1-17) Darrington Loggers. Seniors Wayne Foster, Joe Kostechko and Jack Russillo were honored by the Orcas crowd.
The Vikings fell behind early the first quarter, trailing 8-0 at one point, and finished the quarter down 15-7. But the Loggers were held to only two baskets in the second quarter while the Vikings’ offense started to produce some points, trailing only 24-23 at half.
Both teams came out in the third ready to play with the Vikings edging a 37-36 lead entering the fourth quarter. Late in the game it began to rain down three-pointers as Orcas sharpshooters hit 5 three-point baskets. Exceptional offense and winning the “hustle plays” earned the Vikings the victory.
Orcas scoring was led by Gates with 28, Kruze 11, Bullock 8, Harlow 6, Russillo 4, and Brother Murphy 1.
