By MICHAEL DASHIELL
mdashiell@soundpublishing.com
SEQUIM — North Kitsap senior Calvin Dennis was dominant Feb. 3 with 19 points and a half-dozen blocks, nearly willing his team to a win at Sequim’s Rick Kaps Gymnasium.
But foul trouble kept the 6-foot 10-inch post off the court for much of the first and third quarters, and by the time Dennis fouled out with 40 seconds left, the host Wolves were celebrating a big Olympic League victory.
Sequim topped the Vikings 69-62, dropping the Vikings into a tie for first place with Olympic with identical 9-2 league marks. The Trojans, who had a bye that night, hosts North Mason Feb. 6 while North Kitsap hosts Bremerton.
A host of Vikings propelled their squad to a 12-3 first quarter lead against Sequim, with Brooks Ellingsen knocking down a 3-pointer and Dennis getting the three on a hoop and foul. Sequim kept things close as senior sharpshooter Alex Barry knocked down a pair of 3-pointers of his own, trimming the NK lead to 16-13 after one quarter.
Baskets by Dennis, Cooper Lindsey and David Perry early in the second pushed the Viking lead back to double digits (23-13). Dennis began finding holes in the Sequim defense, zipping a pass to a streaking Lindsey for a basket and then muscling inside for two more layups in the quarter to give his squad a 29-18 lead.
Sequim managed to kept the Vikings from pulling away thanks to long range shots from Barry and Jackson Oliver, with North Kitsap taking a 34-27 lead into halftime.
The turning point came in the third: Sequim post Josh McConnaughey worked his way inside for a basket and drew Dennis’ third foul on the first Sequim possession of the half, starting a 10-0 Sequim run. Four minutes later, Dennis picked up his fourth foul, drawing protest and a technical foul from the North Kitsap bench. Barry sank both technical free throws and scored on the ensuing Sequim possession; the Wolves went up 40-37 and never trailed after that.
With Dennis on the bench, Ellingsen and Cole Rabedeaux led an inspired Viking comeback in the fourth quarter. Timely baskets by Barry, Oliver and Sequim reserve Adrian Espinoza, however, kept Sequim one step ahead. With Dennis back in the mix for the final few minutes, it was Rabedeaux willing his way to the basket for a layup to cut Sequim’s lead to 62-59 with 1:03 on the clock.
Sequim guard Dusty Bates hit a pair of free throws to push Sequim’s lead back to five. Moments later Dennis fouled out, effectively ending the comeback.
Rabedeaux tied Dennis for the team lead with 19 points while Ellingson added 14 points.
Above, North Kitsap senior Calvin Dennis walks away in disgust after picking up his fourth foul in the third quarter of the Vikings’ 69-62 loss at Sequim Feb. 3. Looking on are teammates Ethan Graebner, left, and Joshua Benson. Michael Dashiell / Sequim Gazette
