East Retains AA Perfection

By JOHN K. SMITH

Sun Sports Writer

Knights of coach Les Eathorne pressed and free-threw their way to a fifth straight class AA tournament trail triumph here last night, defeating the Port Angeles Roughriders, 54-40, in an Olympic league prep basketball games.

Entire margin came at the free throw line.

Forward Mike Holen tallied 13 points to lead a trio of Knights in double figures. Guard John Tracy scored 11 and center Darryl Fry 10.

High for PA was sophomore center Bruce Shamp who countered 11 before fouling out with 1:11 left in the game.

FORWARD Jim Tienhaara of East had bowed out on personals earlier in the fourth quarter.

Although the visiting ‘Riders started off quicker than the host Knights, the East quintet picked up steam midway in the first period and roared from a 2-7 deficit in an 18-8 advantage at the end of the first eight minutes.

By halftime, East was in front, 28-17, and, although the ‘Riders chiseled at the difference in the third panel, Knights never were in danger again.

Both teams sank 15 field goals, PA in 37 attempts and East in 35.

But the charity strip belonged to the hustling, pressing Knights who forced the ‘Riders into turnovers, stole the ball and, in general, out-slicked ‘em into fouls. East scored 24 free points in 32 trips to the white line for 75 percent while PA picked up only 10 of 20 for 50 per cent.

WIN WAS fifth in a row for the Knights who now stand 6-4 for the campaign but hae the vital 5-0 mark in the class AA competition that leads towards post-season chance for glory. Those five wins are East’s only outings in the Olympic league which the former capital league members joined with the onset of this season.

Neither East nor PA could find the hoop at the start of the game last night. Tienhaara sank a field goal one minute into the game and it was almost a minute and a half before Knights registered again, this time on a pair of free throws by Fry. Meanwhile, PA had put in three field goals and a free throw to seem to have the Knights at its mercy.

Then the big rush began. Right behind Fry’s frees. Tienhaara put in a field goal. Tracy goaled and added a free throw. Holen bucketed twice and Fry meshed still another to make it 15-7 in favor of East.

THAT WAS 13 points for the quick Knights while holding PA scoreless nearly four minutes.

Holen had nine by halftime, Fry six and Tracy seven.

Statistics

B Team Game

PA (58) - Patterson 14, Bond 10, Riddell 4, Overstreet, Lovell 3, Orwen 21, Bull 3, Burg 3, Freeman;

East (51) - Winderl 16, Kennedy 9, Johnston 15, Gibson 5, Slate 4, Strachan 2.

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KNIGHT IN REVERSE - East high school's Bob Richardson failed to score on this reverse lay-up attempt during second half of Port Angeles game but was awarded one-and-one free throw for personal foul occurring before attempt. He made both, two of five points he contributed to East's 54-40 victory. PA's Bob Peterson (51) has his attention centered on official who called the infraction. - Sun Photo by Bob Torseth

Frosh Court

Chase Tied

Three Ways

The championship race in the County freshmen basketball league was transformed into a three-way affair yesterday as the Bainbridge yearlings, previously unbeaten, absorbed their initial setback of the year.

East played the imperfect host to Bainbridge scoring a 40-24 victory, while across town West’s Wildkittens were nailing down North Kitsap, 49-24.

Outcome of the two games left East, West and Bainbridge with identical 4-1 records to head the pack.

Jim White and Walt Harrel bucketed 12 points apiece to set West’s victory pace, which Ca Pharr hit 14 and Joe Mount added 10 in East’s conquest.

In both cases, coaches Wayne Jensen of West and Art McCarty of East were able to utilize their full playing complement. East’s pressing defense worked better than at any time this year in leading to the decision.

Next Friday, West and Bainbridge settle part of the title scramble in a meeting at West, while East is on the road for a 1:30 meeting with Marcus Whitman at the South Kitsap high school gym.

East (40) – Pharr 14, Mount 10, Love 1, Albertson 6, Bohlmann 7, Sokolowsky 2, Yeager, Nelson, Walker, McInnes, Topness.

Bainbridge (24) – Taylor 6, Chastain 6, Croker 3, Sinnett 3, Hornsbige 4, Nakao 2.

West (49) – White 12, Harrell 12, Bailey 7, Ogg 4, R. Green 7, Costello 2, D. Green 3, Hoffman 2.

North Kitsap (24) – Stadahaug 7, Morrow 4, Gwarthey 7, Olson 1, Edmonds 1, Mandio 4.