SPORTS Port Orchard
Friday, December 6, 2013 • Port Orchard Independent
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Wolves’ season gets off to rough start Sophomore guard taken to hospital after 49-28 nonleague loss By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Sports Editor
It is difficult to imagine at worse start to South Kitsap’s season. In addition to a 49-28 setback Tuesday night in a nonleague game against Renton, the Wolves watched sophomore guard Libby Borgonia wheeled off on a stretcher after a hard foul. Borgonia was knocked into the padded wall after driving for a transition layup with 1:01 left in the second quarter and was tended to for more than 20 minutes before she was transported off the court at 8:24 p.m. and taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma. Borgonia appeared to suffer a lower back injury, but South coach Mike Hulet said he was not clear about that afterward. “I haven’t heard anything,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her. She was hurting pretty bad when she left.”
GIRLS BBALL
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
South Kitsap junior guard Marybeth Bray vies for a rebound during Tuesday’s 49-28 season-opening loss against Renton.
While Borgonia is not a starter, Hulet said he felt the 5-foot-2 point guard brought energy to the Wolves on both ends of the floor when she entered the game. “You saw when she went in,” he said. “The tempo kind of went up. She’s a tough kid. She can push and pressure defend. She’s an integral part of our program.” When Borgonia departed, the game was tied, 17-all. Because of the injury delay, the officials elected to end the first half. Senior Gabrielle Stewart shot Borgonia’s free throws — she converted 1 of 2 — after the intermission. That officially gave South an 18-17 lead at halftime. The Indians, who compete in the Class 3A Seamount League, took their first lead, 19-18, when senior forwardcenter Alisha Stowers hit a jumper with 7:49 remaining in the third quarter. South was outscored 16-0 during the third period. By the time the Wolves finally scored again with 5:33 left in the game on a baseline jumper by junior guard Hayley Romo, they trailed 40-20. While Hulet believes his team was adversely affected by Borgonia’s injury, he said there were other issues. South was outhustled for some loose balls and rebounds during the second half. Junior guard-forward Taylor Farris was the primary beneficiary as she scored a
game-high 17 points. “Like I told the girls, we need to demand more of each other in practice and get after it a little bit more,” said Hulet, whose team also had 21 turnovers. “There’s plenty of work to go around. Everybody needs to pick it up.” Neither team shot well, but the Indians used several second-chance opportunities to convert layups or draw fouls. Renton made 6 of 22 free-throw attempts, while the Wolves connected on 1 of 4. “Our help-side defense was suspect,” Hulet said. “They got down into the lane time and time again. Bad things happen when they’re getting into the lane.” South will not have much time to sort out those issues as its plays on the road for the first time at 7 tonight at Mount Tahoma.
Renton 49, at South Kitsap 28 Renton 9 8 16 16 — 49 South Kitsap 13 5 0 10 — 28 Renton-Janaya Williams 7, Kiera Houston 0, Shelly Sauls 1, Asia Brisco 0, Bethlehem Alem 2, Natajia McMillan 9, Mariah Perry-Jimerson 7, Taylor Farris 17, Shelby Proctor 2, Alisha Stowers 4. South Kitsap-Libby Borgonia 0, Hayley Romo 2, Alyssa Melendez 0, Marybeth Bray 2, Alona Lund 0, Hailey Parker 0, McKenna Mallory 2, Brianna Shafer 2, Gabrielle Stewart 9, Kaylee Yergeau 6, Shannon Laupola 0, Hayley O’Dell 5.
2013-14 WOLVES BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Wolves have eyes on return SK girls hope experience turns into success on court to 4A state tournament By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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Sports Editor
t is an unusual problem. Coaches often have to hope a member of their supporting cast can step into a leading role the following season. But South Kitsap coach John Callaghan returns his two best players — seniors Caulin Bakalarski and Ryley Callaghan. He just needs others to replace a core of varsity veterans that helped the Wolves reach regionals and finish with a 16-9 record last season. Bakalarski and Callaghan helped South breakthrough in 2012-13 after five seasons of mediocrity that saw the Wolves produce a combined 48-56 record. They finished third in the Class 4A Narrows League and were a rebound away from upset-
ting then-No. 1 Garfield in regionals in Mill Creek. Instead, Torrence Baker collected a rebounded and
“All of that is good because there’s no substitute for experience. We’ve got some talented guys, but as far as experience goes at the varsity level there’s not a lot.” – John Callaghan was fouled with 5.6 seconds left. He converted both free throws and the Bulldogs later prevailed 74-65 in overtime. “Every day,” said Ryley Callaghan, when asked about how often he thinks about
that game. “You go from your dream coming true to everything coming crashing down. I will remember that forever.” Bakalarski and Callaghan combined for 43 points during that game. While that duo frequently produced the bulk of South’s points, eight seniors played a variety of roles to help the Wolves nearly reach state for the first time since 2006. “That team had a lot of heart,” John Callaghan said. “It probably wasn’t the most talented, but they played together. They truly loved each other. It was fun to be around every day.” He hopes this season will be more of the same. In addition to superior talent, Callaghan said South benefited from great team SEE BOYS, A32
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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Sports Editor
everal South Kitsap athletic programs have featured youthful teams this year. Consider the Wolves’ girls basketball team an exception. South went through this struggles last season when its sophomore-laden squad produced an 8-12 record, which was the program’s first losing season since 2007-08. But third-year coach Mike Hulet is hopeful those struggles will translate into success this season. With the exception of Darian Dickey, a part-time starter last season who graduated, the Wolves return all of their significant contributors from last season. “We’re really excited,” Hulet said. “We were very young last year. We’re really
hoping — and are really confident — that will pay big dividends for us.” The glut of returning play-
“We’re really excited. We were very young last year. We’re really hoping — and are really confident — that will pay big dividends for us.” – Mike Hulet ers along with the addition of freshmen competing at the high school this season means the Wolves have more players than ever. In addition to the varsity and junior-varsity teams, South has two C teams. Because of that, Hulet hired Geoffery Rilley, whose brother, John,
is an assistant men’s basketball coach at Boise State University, to serve as an assistant. Tami Lester-Dame and former Olympic College women’s basketball coach Tammy Helwig also return as assistants, while Chris Olsen, who was South’s boys basketball coach before John Callaghan took over the program in 1998, also is back after taking last season off. Hulet said his staff was able to focus on more than teaching plays during the offseason. The Wolves opened their season Tuesday with a 49-28 loss against Renton. But Hulet remains excited about his team’s prospects. “We’re so far ahead just because we have everyone back,” he said. Leading scorer, 6-foot-2 SEE GIRLS, A32