PTHS Boys Basketball Results 2007-08

Reported by Brett Black

2A State Tournament at the Tacoma Dome - Game 3
Friday, March 7, 2008 - 8:30 p.m.
Port Townsend vs Burlington-Edison

All good things must come to an end.

Port Townsend's hope's of a state championship and their 15 game winning streak were both halted in a 58-33 dismantling at the hands of the Burlington-Edison Tigers, the state's top ranked 2A basketball team. PT was outscored in each quarter of the game and shot a dismal 12/37 from the field.

The Redskins seemed to have their chances dashed from the get go as Senior Ross Bringgold picked up his second foul only 52 seconds into the game. He sat out the remainder of the first half and only played a total of less than six minutes before he fouled out early in the fourth quarter. He still managed 7 points and was the teams second leading scorer. Parker McClelland lead the team with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Aaron Gifford was held to a season low 5 points on 2/10 shooting.

The Redskins had already guaranteed themselves a trophy with their victory over River Ridge on Thursday night and will play Mark Morris for third or sixth place Saturday at 3:30pm depending if they win or lose. Mark Morris has been the state tournament favorite from day one of the season and will prove a very tough match for the 23-2 Redskins.

Regardless, the team has already made a quantum leap in terms of expectations and we should all be extremely proud of what they have accomplished this season. But, of course, we want them to win. Of course. 

Click here for stats.

2A State Tournament at the Tacoma Dome - Game 2
Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 8:30 p.m.
Port Townsend vs River Ridge

Three months, that's all you have

To all the loyal readers and PT basketball fans who have followed the team as of late, that is all you have.

Three months before the three seniors on the 23-1 Port Townsend boys basketball team all graduate on to various colleges and move on from what they have accomplished this season; A season which has seen them as very key players in a team that has now officially broken the school record for wins in a season and have advanced to the semifinals of the Washington State 2A basketball championships with a 53-47 overtime win over a very talented River Ridge Hawks basketball team.
And what a win it was.

Senior Aaron Gifford drove coast to coast and hit the game-tying shot as time expired in regulation, and PT followed with a 12-6 scoring advantage in overtime as the Redskins moved onto their first "final four" since placing second in the 1992/93 state tournament. Gifford shook off a 2/8 shooting first half and hit 6/11 in the second to finish with 19 points in a game which saw his team down 25-15 at halftime.

PT fought back into the game with a critical 13-0 run to start the third quarter, putting them up 28-25. It was led by Gifford and junior do-it-all junior Parker McClelland, who scored the majority of his 8 points during the run. But it wouldn't have been attainable if it weren't for another senior teammate, and his name is Ross Bringgold. "The Public Defender" as coined by a loyal PT fan, was simply spectacular on both ends of the floor as he shut down the Hawks leading scorer Maurice Bouchet, who lit it up on day one of the tournament for 25 points on 7/10 three pointers, to 10 for the game on 2/10 shooting. Bringgold was also the game's second leading scorer as he fought his way to 14 points (6/9 from the field) to go along with his game leading 7 rebounds. Bouchet was clearly frustrated with Bringgold's defense as their were times that he was completely out of the picture, always having the 6'5" defensive dynamo right with him. Bouchet was considered by many to be the best guard in the tournament, and for good reason, but Bringgold had him locked down.

Friday night's matchup is with another one of the tournament favorites in Burlington-Edison, who have been ranked either #1 or #2 in the AP poll this whole season. If the Redskins win they will advance to the State Championship against either Mark Morris or Ephrata (who bested PT in their last championship stint). The Redskins have already secured a placing no lower than sixth place, but it seems they want a little more. Let's get all you PT fans out there and cherish these next two games.

Click here for game stats.

GO BIG RED - BB

2A State Tournament at the Tacoma Dome - Game 1
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
Port Townsend vs West Valley

You can still count the Redskins boys basketball team's losses for the season on one finger.

This is thanks to a thrilling 45-41 triumph over West Valley of Spokane at the Tacoma Dome on Wednesday night. In a game which saw Port Townsend down 25-16 at halftime (on 6/16 shooting), they got back into the game slowly by holding the Eagles to only 16 points in the second half, one less than they scored in the second quarter alone, all while tallying 29 themselves in the final two quarters.

Parker McClelland showed why he was deserving of First Team All-League by scoring a game high 21 points on 7/10 shooting and grabbing 7 rebounds, although he did contribute heavily to the teams dismal free throw shooting performance by going only 5/13 for the line. The Redskins as a team finished 12/25 (48%) for the game, matching the same percentage they shot from the field (15/31 overall). Besides that McClelland was simply terrific, hitting both of his three pointers and providing the scoring whenever it seemed needed.

Make no mistake about it, the 'Skins won with a team effort that will be remembered for some time. Two examples were Jaydee Dodd and Walker Wilson. Dodd came off the bench for only 47 seconds in the second quarter, but in that time he delivered a key assist during a small but important Port Townsend run that kept West Valley from pulling away. Wilson scored three points in his four minutes of action during the critical run that would eventually turn into the Redskins first lead since the first quarter. After that the momentum was definitely in his teams favor. Walker also received a sportsmanship medal for his fine example of how student athletes should conduct themselves during a game.

Let's not forget Aaron Gifford. Although he only scored 9 points on 3/6 shooting, but, as always he was clutch by hitting a driving layup and two strait free throws late in the game to seal the deal for the seniors' 22-1 team, which ties a school record for wins in a season. Ross Bringgold and Joe Aase were at their finest with stellar defense as well, which doesn't show up in the box score but is just as important as anything.

Our matchup tomorrow (4/6) is against River Ridge high school, which blasted an 11-13 Sehome team 31-58 in the next game after Port Townsend's. Game time is 8:30pm at the Dome. Expect an very competitive game, but I'm sure anyone who's reading this would prefer a blowout in PT's favor. I know I would.

Scott Wilson from the PT Leader will be blogging frequently during the game, check in with ptleader.com for details. I have also heard, but have admittedly not gained any details on an amazing basketball announcer from Port Angeles doing a radio broadcast. Those of you who have ever been to a PT vs Port Angeles game will have seen him doing his broadcasts. If I get any more information I will surely post it.

Click here for game stats.

GO REDSKINS!!!!

District Play-off Game
Port Townsend vs Foster at Foss High School - Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Port Townsend Redskins are the West Central District's 2008 2A Champions.

The Foster Bulldogs were the latest victim in PT's season long defensive showcase as they could only muster 12 points in the whole second half in Thursday's 47-35 Redskin victory. Parker McClelland led the scoring with a "quiet" 15 points and 7 rebounds, he was 7-10 from the free throw line in a game that saw the 'Skins shoot 18 out of 26 overall from the charity stripe.
Elan Sovik had 13 points, including 3 of 3 from the three point line and turned out a performance over the two game districts that needs to be noticed. Seniors Aaron Gifford and Ross Bringgold stepped up big time, each had nine points and played stellar defense.

Joe Aase teamed with Bringgold, and some help from their teammates, in shutting down Fosters top scorer Refugio Soto-Lopez to well below his season average. Aase turned out what may have been the teams best defensive performance of the night as Soto-Lopez had a hard time even touching the ball when Aase was assigned to him.

Lopez was injured in the third quarter and only played sparingly the rest of the game, but by that time momentum seemed to have already switched to the Redskins favor.

Dakotah Pine only had one point, but he led the team with 6 assists and 2 steals while limiting himself to 3 turnovers against a very high pressure Foster Press. 

PT will wait until Sunday's 9 a.m. drawing in Renton to find out who their opponent will be in the WIAA 2A State Tournament, which starts on Wednesday, March 5th at the Tacoma Dome.

On to State Redskin fans! I hope to see a large turnout in the Tacoma Dome. Click here for stats.
 

District Play-off Game
Port Townsend vs Fife at Foss High School - Tuesday, February 26, 2008

One more win and the Port Townsend Redskins are in the state tournament, thanks to an intense 47-44 victory over the Trojans from Fife on Tuesday night. PT came out with a very solid first quarter, leading 14-7 after the first eight minutes. The Redskins extended their lead to nine points when Parker McClelland picked up his second foul, sending him to the bench. Fife took advantage of having the Redskins main post threat out and slowly fought their way back into the game. They actually outscored PT in each quarter except the first.

McClelland would eventually foul out in the fourth quarter, but he did make an impact with two huge blocks when the game was close in the fourth quarter. With about a minute to go in the game and the score tied up, Elan Solvik made his third three pointer of the game and sent the Redskins crowd into a frenzy.

PT was up four points and seemed to have the game in hand when Fife's Kevin Cox nailed in a bankshot three pointer from about 28 feet out with five seconds to go. It was his only points in the game, thanks to stellar defense by Ross Bringgold, who also tallied 6 points and 8 rebounds (5 offensive). The Redskins got the ball in to junior Joe Aase, who got fouled with two seconds left and calmly nailed two free throws. Fife heaved a desperation half courter in an attempt to tie the game but it wasn't close.

PT was led by senior Aaron Gifford and junior Elan Solvik with 12 points each. Dakotah Pine played all 32 minutes and finished with 6 points, 4 assists, 4 steals and only 1 turnover.

The next game is for the District Championship, winner to state, against the Foster Bulldogs, who escaped in two overtimes against their rival Steilacoom. Be there. Click here for game stats.

Port Townsend vs Kingston - Friday, February 15, 2008

Port Townsend vs Port Angeles - Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Port Townsend vs Sequim - Friday, February 8, 2008

Port Townsend vs Olympic - Tuesday, February 5, 2008

PT Varsity won again on Tuesday night, a 71-55 victory over the Trojans from Olympic, extending their winning streak to 8 games. Parker McClelland led the way with 26 points (10/17 shooting 2/3 on 3 pointers) while Aaron Gifford chipped in 17.
The Redskins played their best half of the year tonight in a 47-27 first half display of offensive efficiency. Sophomore Eric Thomas came off the bench in the first quarter to help spark the team with his first four points of the season, including a three pointer. The offense moved at a quick pace when Coach Stroeder ran both Thomas and Dakotah Pine together, resulting in a high number of open shots, which the Redskins were hitting (15/26 in the first half).  Thomas also finished with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal; an excellent performance from a player who will be a big part of the program for the next 2+ years.  

PT came out flat in the second half, getting outscored 17-8 in the third quarter, but Olympic never got any closer than 11 points. Each player got in tonight, a first in a long while considering all the close games we have had this season. Vinnie Johnson and Walker Wilson both came in and contributed some efficient minutes, with Vinnie scoring two points in the first half on a follow up after he grabbed a tough offensive rebound, and Walker chipped in a point, two boards, an assist, and a steal. It was a team effort tonight and showed that we might deserve a higher ranking than #7 in the state (in my opinion of course, but I am definitely biased). PT will look to clinch their first Olympic League title in nearly 50 years on Friday when they take on Sequim, who handed them their one loss on the season back on January 4th. Tell your friends - BB

Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Klahowya - Friday, February 1, 2008

PT moved their record to 15-1 (11-1 in the Olympic League) with a hard fought 57-51 victory over the Klahowya Eagles this past Friday. Aaron Gifford put up 26 points, including a phenomenal 17-19 from the free throw line, much of the time with the loud Klahowya crowd chanting "overrated" as he shot. The win moved the Redskins within two victories of their first Olympic league title in 50 years. We have two big games this week, with our first coming today against Olympic. The second, which could possibly clinch the league title, comes at Sequim on Friday, who is the only team to beat the Redskins this season. Needless to say, we are looking for some revenge. We only have two home games left (today and against Kingston on 2/15), so make sure you come out and support the team. Also, districts will be played at Foss High School this year, rather than Curtis High. Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Peninsula - Friday, January 25, 2008

On a personal note, I had the opportunity to coach the JV squad on Friday. We pulled out a 39-37 victory over a tough Peninsula JV squad who had beaten us by 30 points back on December 14th. We went into the fourth quarter down by six points but fought back, outscoring the Seahawks in the final quarter by a score of 10-2. Cameron Robinson scored the game winning bucket with 1.5 seconds left on a put back off of a Jesse Yourish shot. It was a very exciting win for both myself and our JV team, who has excelled this season to a 7-6 record in a very tough Olympic League. It was also our first victory over a 3A school on the season. I would like to personally thank the players for their effort in getting me my first coaching victory in the high school ranks. This thanks also goes out to the parents as well, who have raised a great group of young men. Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Bremerton - Tuesday, January 22, 2008

PT pulled out another victory, this time over the Bremerton Knights. The final score was 60-54, moving our record to 13-1 (9-1 in the Olympic League). The Redskins were up by as many as 18 in the third quarter when Bremerton slowly rallied back into the game, eventually getting as close as two points late in the fourth quarter. But a win is a win, and we'll take any to hold off North Mason, Peninsula, and Klahowya for first place in the Olympic League. Click here fot stats.

Port Townsend vs North Mason - Friday, January 18, 2008

PT dominated North Mason again on Friday, the final was 45-31. We had an impressive week in holding North Mason to 31.5 points per game in two games, when they had come into the week averaging in the mid 70's. Click here for stats.

We now sit at 12-1 and have  a two game lead in the Olympic League. Go Redskins!

Port Townsend vs RC Palmer - Friday, December 28, 2007

Another great win for PT 53-47, we have Lakeside up next for the Crush in the Slush Tournament Championship. Click here for the full stat sheet for PT.

Port Townsend vs Chimacum - Thursday, December 27, 2007

Port Townsend was victorious over our rival Chimacum tonight. The final score was 69-41. We moved to 6-0 and are ready for a big matchup tomorrow night with RC Palmer, the 5th ranked team in the 4A ranks in British Columbia, who took care of Cedarcrest in overtime.We were led once again by Parker McClelland with 21 points (7-10 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Aaron Gifford and Elan Solvik both chipped in 15. Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Klahowya - Friday, December 21, 2007

JV - 42 - 40 in 1 OT

Varsity 48-42 in OT

Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Olympic - Tuesday, December 18, 2007

JV - Olympic 67 - PT 37

The Redskin JV's lost 37 - 67.  But we did have a stellar performance from 6-1 junior Matt MacLachlan,
who finished with 14 points (6-10 shooting, 2-3 on three pointers), including 12 in the second quarter alone.
Olympic JV's were led by Jordan Halsted's 15 points. Click here for JV stats.

Scoring:

PT – Jesse Yourish – 6, Hab Rubio – 2, Jeramy Sands – 3, Cameron Robinson – 2, Evan O’Brien – 6, Matt MacLachlan – 14, Jaydee Dodd – 2, Austen Lawrence – 2.

OLY – Zachary Bird – 4, Adam Way – 7, Jesse Quitugua – 2, Jordan Halsted – 15, Darche Samuel – 4, Garrett Brown – 10, Ardie Fesuluai – 3, Ben Cruz – 3, RJ Lumagui – 6, Ryan Borja – 13.

Varsity - PT 65 - Olympic 43

The Varsity once again put together an impressive victory; the final score was 64-53. Aaron Gifford got us started with an early hot streak, scoring eight of his game high 22 points in the first half. The Redskins were down late in the second quarter when 6-3 junior Elan Solvik bombed three straight trey balls (three pointers to those who just don’t know) to end the half, helping turn a four point deficit into a seven point halftime lead. He finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Dakotah Pine had a huge fourth quarter, coming through with clutch baskets, steals, and free throws (6-8 in the last two minutes) when the game was still close, finishing with 13 points, four steals, and three assists. Parker McClelland was held to nine points but chipped in 11 rebounds and a blocked shot. Ross Bringgold didn’t score any points, but he held Larry Dixon, Olympics top player, to 7 points. Click here for Varsity stats.

Scoring:

PT – Dakotah Pine – 13, Aaron Gifford – 22, Joe Aase – 4, Parker McClelland – 9, Elan Solvik – 13,
Walker Wilson – 3.

OLY – Justin Sena – 8, Joey Johnston – 11, Larry Dixon – 7, Andre Henderson – 17, Daniel Johnson – 10.

Port Townsend vs Peninsula - Friday, December 14, 2007

Peninsula was up 51-50 point with 20 seconds left and Gene Lee went to the line, but missed the front end of a 1 and 1, we scored the next five points at the line to seal it.

Peninsula was led by the 12 points of both Lee and Lance Wallwerk.

Click here for stats.

Port Townsend vs Bremerton - Tuesday, December 11, 2007
JV - Bremerton 71 - PT 24
The bright spot was Joel Thomas, who had nine points (including two three pointers) and six rebounds.
 
Varsity - PT 59 - Bremerton 43
The Varsity looked excellent, especially in the second half. At halftime they were actually down 19 - 24, but ended up winning 59 - 43, outscoring the Knights 40 to 19 in the second half.

Parker McClelland had a monster game with 23 Points points (on 10 for 12 shooting), 7 Rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. Elan Solvik also had a solid game with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Aaron Gifford struggled a little bit, but still ended up with 12 points. Dakotah Pine also chipped in a gutsy performance after being sick and had two points, six assists, and four steals.