Wolves fall to Gig Harbor in overtime thriller

It could be dubbed an overtime thriller, but South Kitsap High School girls basketball coach Mike Allen said it wasn’t thrilling being on the losing side of a 58-56 overtime loss at home against Gig Harbor.

The Wolves could make Allen forget about the team’s last two losses with a pair of wins this week.

SK (2-2 Bridge Division, 4-6 overall) plays at cellar dweller Olympic

(0-4, 1-9) tonight at 7 p.m. before hosting a huge game Friday against first-place Central Kitsap.

After the abysmal performance at Port Angeles last Wednesday, Allen said he was pleased to see better performances out of his players against Gig Harbor.

But it’s the game against the Tides that will be harder to forget than Port Angeles.

“I can forget about PA,” Allen said. “This one (Gig Harbor) will be harder for me to forget.”

What’s tough about this game is the opportunities squandered by the Wolves.

SK held a two-point advantage with 21 seconds left and had the ball.

Allen said the plan was to run the clock out and force Gig Harbor to foul and put SK at the free-throw line.

Instead, the Wolves turned the ball over with nine seconds remaining and Gig Harbor’s Kelli Milham went coast to coast for an uncontested lay-in as time expired to send the game into overtime.

The Wolves had opportunities in the overtime period as well, but failed to capitalized, Allen said.

An SK turnover gave Gig Harbor the ball with 12 seconds remaining and a slim two-point lead.

In order to stop the clock SK players needed to commit a foul and force Gig Harbor to shoot free throws.

Instead, the Tides were able to run the clock out without getting fouled to the bemusement of Allen.

SK also failed to earn valuable points at the free-throw line, converting just 18 of 36 from the stripe.

“We had many opportunities to win,” Allen said. “We just didn’t capitalize.”

An expected win tonight against Olympic would be a perfect precursor heading into the home showdown with Central Kitsap.

“We’re sort of preparing for CK already,” Allen said. “But we’re not overlooking Olympic.”

SK is currently tied for third place with Shelton but there is still three-fourths of a season left in the league.

Based on SK’s improved play over the week, Allen said there is still hope for the squad.

“I feel like we’re one of those teams that if we all get on the same page we’re going to be very good,” he said. “I’m not panicking yet. I’ve seen a lot of improvements. I think it’s a process of isolating where the kids’ strengths are and using it in the right areas.”

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