Sun Staff -  Feb 7th, 1996

South Kitsap held off Wilson in the closing seconds Tuesday to nip the Rams 54-53 and win its sixth straight game.

South Kitsap was up by three with 15 seconds left when Wilson's Amsberry hit a 2-pointer.

South then had a difficult time inbounding the ball and ended up turning it over to the Rams with eight seconds left.

The Rams made three attempts at sinking a 2-pointer, but went wide each time. Finally, with one second left, SK's Shannon Kelley came up with a rebound to end it.

Jason Preuit led SK with 16 points. Kelley and Anthony Boyd each chipped in 11.

The win puts South (10-5 league, 11-6 season) in a two-way tie for fourth place in the Narrows league with Wilson.

South faces second place Mount Tahoma (11-4) in Tacoma on Friday in a revenge game. Mount Tahoma won that first game in triple-overtime.

OLYMPIC LEAGUE

* At Central Kitsap 56, Port Townsend 50 — The Cougars, who were already without top scorer Josh Ellis, played this one without 6-6 Matt Brien, the team's top rebounder. Brien sprained an ankle over the weekend and watched on crutches. Brien was to be examined again today to determine if he would be available Friday when CK travels to Port Angeles for the showdown to decide the league championship.

The Cougars roared to a 37-19 lead behind Scott Hamre's 18 points and then faltered, coach

John Sitton believed, because so many players were playing more minutes than usual and may have gotten tired.

But it was also clear that the Cougars missed Brien, who averages 16 points and 10 rebounds.

With Brien, the Cougars were able to hold 6-7 Abe Fox to nine points in the teams' first meeting. This time, Fox unloaded with 20 points and worked the boards.

Hamre finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and two steals as the Cougars won their 16th straight. Central and PA both take 10-1 league records and 16-1 overall marks into Friday's big game.

* Bremerton 62, at North Kitsap 42 — Jeff Gallagher hit six threes and scored 31 points as the Knights tore apart the Vikings.

Jeff Carlsen scored 13 and Pat Duncan 12 for NK, 2-9 in league and 6-12 overall.

* Port Angeles 50, at Bainbridge 30 — The Spartans gave it a good effort against once-beaten PA. They played tought defense, but couldn't put the ball in the hole on offense.

Jon Madison's 17 points helped PA, which climbed to 10-1 in league and 16-1 overall. The Roughriders host Central Kitsap Friday in a battle for the league championship.

* At Sequim 78, Olympic 63 — Sequim, taking advantage of Bainbridge's loss to Port Angeles, pulled into a tie for the Olympic League's top AA spot with the win.

The Wolves, 4-7 in OL play and 7-10 overall, connected on four 3-pointers — including two by Paul Manzer — to jump out to a 23-13 first quarter margin.

Olympic was able to cut the lead to six by the third quarter, but foul trouble forced the Trojans to rely on a smaller lineup.

Craig Knapp hit on 8-of-9 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal it for Sequim.

NISQUALLY LEAGUE

* At Chimacum 51, Steilacoom 46 — The Cowboys charged to a big upset against league leader Steilcoom (11-5 season).

Steilacoom was up 17-13 late in the first when Chimacum's Mike Campbell hit a late 3-pointer to bring it to 17-16.

The Cowboys then poured on the defense to hold Steilacoom to 6 in the second quarter give Chimacum a 33-23 lead at half.

Jake Johnson scored 22 points for the Cowboys who improved to 6-12 on the season (5-7 league).

PIERCE COUNTY LEAGUE

* At North Mason 75, Fife 62 — The Bulldogs got their defense going early on to take an early lead.

Josh Madsen and Billy Landram both scored 16 points to lead the Bulldog, 9-5 in league and 11-5 on the season.

SEA-TAC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

* At Christian Faith 65, King's West 51 — The Warriors were outrebounded 38-14 and that was pretty much the story. The loss knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs and finished their season. They ended up 9-12.

Tyler Kuske scored 20 points for the Warriors. Kuske, Trigve Feltus, Brian Thompson, Josh Morse, Josh Foss, Dale Burden and Scott Johnson all return next season.