Men get first win in league play

“We have been struggling with the selfish-issue all year, I just now came out and said something publicly. We have the talent to win, we are just not playing together,” said basketball head coach Barry Janusch after the Rangers’ eight-point loss to Seattle Community College Jan. 16.
The Rangers traveled to play against the winless-in-league Skagit Valley Cardinals Jan. 14. They had also been winless in league play up to that point, so one team was going home with their first win.
The Rangers were still trying to work out some kinks, as several players recently returned to the team after injuries and circumstance sidelined them for several weeks.
At the end of the half, the score was even at 41 points. In the second half, however, Olympic College prevailed, outscoring the Cardinals 50 - 45 and winning the game 91 - 86, earning their first league win of the season.
Cartiea French-Toney and Josh Koets, who had been out for a few weeks, had monster games for the Rangers. French-Toney scored 17, had six assists and also gloved seven steals. Koets scored 21 and added five boards.
Mauricio Modestin, who had been the team’s high scorer during several players’ absence, again had a big game, scoring 26.
OC hosted Seattle Community College Jan. 16. OC had a two-point deficit at the half, but struggled to keep up in the second half, losing in front of the home crowd 63 - 71.
“It is weird because we were missing people, and now they are back and we are scrambling, learning how to play together,” said Janusch.
French-Toney had another big game, scoring 16, and again had a high-steal game, gathering eight steals total. Corey Foster added a double-double for the Rangers, scoring ten and grabbing 11 boards.
While Foster and French-Toney had big games, the team’s two high scorers, Koets and Modestin, struggled, shooting a combined five of 20 from the field and obtained a mere 16 points between them.
Janusch said that after the game the team held a much-needed meeting, mainly concerning the team’s “selfish” play through the year.
“Things came out, feelings came out,” said Janusch. “They all get along fine and have each other’s backs but it had to get ugly, but I think now it will get better.”
The Rangers were scheduled to play Wednesday and Saturday, but due to the inclement weather Kitsap County received last week the games were rescheduled to a yet-to-be-determined date.
OC travels to Peninsula Wednesday and then comes home to face Everett Saturday.
“We had a good meeting and were anxious to play last Wednesday, but now we have to regroup and be ready for the next game,” said Janusch.