Two of the last three games between Gig Harbor and South Kitsap have been decided by a point.
But on senior night, the graduating Wolves made sure it didn’t become a habit.
Tionne Curry scored a game-high 15 points to help South to a 55-45 win Tuesday night against Gig Harbor in Narrows League Bridge Division play.
“We never want Gig Harbor to beat us at home, ever again,” said Curry, who was part of the all-senior starting lineup.
That has rarely occurred since the teams began playing twice a season in 2000-01. The Wolves now have won at home in eight of the last nine seasons with the lone loss coming in overtime, 54-53, on Jan. 4, 2006.
South (12-6 overall, 8-5 league) never trailed during the game and took a 16-4 lead entering the second quarter. Senior forward Austin Siegel scored eight of his nine points in the opening period.
“I take my hat off to our seniors,” South coach John Callaghan said. “They put us up and we held them off from there.”
The Tides won the previous meeting, 53-52, on Dec. 16, and cut their deficit to 25-16 at halftime. But Gig Harbor (7-11, 4-10) never seemed to be able to make a run as Curry repeatedly made cuts to the basket that drew fouls. He converted 9 of 12 free throws.
“We’re a way better team than earlier in the season,” Curry said. “We’re focused on the same goal.”
Gig Harbor struggled with its outside shooting throughout the game — the Tides were just 3 of 22 on 3-pointers — but turned inside to 6-foot-6 sophomore Austin Seferian-Jenkins late in the game. Seferian-Jenkins, who holds offers to play football at Stanford, Washington and Washington State, helped the Tides get as close as 53-45 with 1:09 left in the game. He led Gig Harbor with 13 points.
“He’s a beast, a man-child,” Callaghan said. “I thought Joey (Osinski) and Ricky (King) did a nice job on him. He’s got a nice, soft touch for a big man.”
It was the last time the Tides would score as the Wolves moved into third place in the Bridge. Lincoln won 78-70 on Tuesday at Wilson to remain tied with Foss for the division lead at 11-3. The Wolves, who close out the regular season Monday against Shelton, can’t finish higher than third.
But the difference between third and fourth place is significant. As a No. 4, the Wolves would have to win two elimination games to advance to districts. The third-place team can secure a berth to the West Central District with a win in Thursday’s opener. If South loses as a No. 3 on Thursday, it would face an elimination match Feb. 14 with the winner advancing to districts.
While the Wolves won, Callaghan said they have yet to play consistently throughout an entire game. They struggled with the Tides’ trapping defense and committed nine second-half turnovers. They also missed all six of their 3-pointers and converted just 36 percent of their field goals.
But overall, it was a win in a rivalry game.
“I’m really happy for our seniors,” Callaghan said. “Even if it’s not senior night, you’re always going to get a big crowd for Gig Harbor, and guys are going to play their guts out.”
At South Kitsap 55, Gig Harbor 45
Gig Harbor 4 12 6 23 — 45
South Kitsap 16 9 13 17 — 55
Gig Harbor-Zach Davis-Hodges 2, Robbie Karamatic 7, Cody Payne 0, Andy Rothenberg 0, Troy Castle 5, David Bigelow 6, Chris Repar 5, Brandon Gagliardi 5, Austin Seferian-Jenkins 13, Allen Hodges 2.
South Kitsap-Isaiah Davis 0, Ivan Rybachuk 0, Tionne Curry 15, Austin Siegel 9, Tre Haslom 2, Joey Osinski 7, Leon La Deaux 7, Mike Longmire 11, Ricky King 4.
