A fast start nearly came to a bitter end as the Friday Harbor boys basketball team survived a late-game rally to notch 43-42 victory on the road Friday over Nooksack Valley.

Up by nine at the start of the fourth quarter, the Wolverines saw their lead dwindle as the Pioneers (0-7) caught fire down the stretch, outscoring the visitors 17-11 in the final period. Friday Harbor led 28-19 at the half.

“We stopped being aggressive on offense and started playing just to win in the second half,” senior point guard Dakota Rosales said. “But we were all pretty gassed going into the fourth quarter. It was our first big game. The first one that means something for seeding and the playoffs.”

It’s also Friday Harbor Head Coach Rod Turnbull’s first win over Nooksack Valley during his eight years at the helm. With the win, the Wolverines tallied their sixth consecutive victory and improved to 6-1 overall.

Junior Donald Galt tossed in a team-high 11 points and C.J. Woods had 10. Rosales and Collin Williamson scored six points apiece, and sophomore Otis Cooper-West contributed five.

“We dominated the first quarter and I think we started playing to win and stopped being aggressive on offense, and weren’t taking the open shots like we were in the first quarter.”

Dec. 20

Friday Harbor 73

Coupeville 20

Four Wolverines scored in double figures as Friday Harbor posted a 73-20 runaway win on the road Dec. 20 at Coupeville, 0-6.

Junior Donald Galt tallied a team-high 13 points as the Wolverines stormed out to a 23-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 47-9 at the break.

Next

The Wolverines square off against Shoreline Christian, on the road, Jan. 3. They are home to host Cedar Park Christian Jan. 6; tip off is 6 p.m. in Turnbull Gym.

— Scott Rasmussen