-  Dec 3rd, 1995

The Sun Staff

Coaches always talk about a balanced offense. That's the goal, at least.

Well, North Mason coach Brian Roper couldn't have been happier after Saturday's 53-41 non-league boys basketball victory over Arlington.

Five NM players scored in the victory, led by Sean Reid's 12 points. Billy Landram has 11, Josh Vance 11, Josh Madsen 10 and Cabe Gagwin nine.

Madsen, a six-foot guard, also had six steals, seven rebounds and three assists for what Roper called "a super game.'' Cagwin added six assists.

Mason had 17 steals and forced 24 turnovers, enabling the Bulldogs to overcome 15-of-32 free throw shooting.

NM (2-0) opens Pierce County League play Tuesday at Eatonville.

* At Olympic 70, Maple Ridge, B.C. 46 — David Craycraft scored 16 points, Kevin Dotson 12 and Ted Gaines 10 to give coaching veteran Les Eathorne his first win with the Trojans.

"The kids handled the ball better tonight and I thought their defense improved,'' said Eathorne, the longtime East Bremerton and Bremerton High coach who came out of retirement to fill the vacancy at Oly. "And playing at home made a lot of difference. The kids just played a better overall game (than they had in their 90-66 Friday night loss at Bethel). Kevin Dotson played exceptionally hard, Craycraft came on in the third and fourth quarter and, in general, the kids are giving a good effort. In another couple of weeks we're going to be all right.''

* Bremerton 72, at Spanaway Lake 49 — "We played a little more relaxed than the first night (during a loss to Stadium),'' said Bremerton coach Larry Gallagher.

The Knights, led by guards Everett Williams and Jeff Gallagher, forced 26 turnovers as they opened an 18-point lead in the second quarter and were never seriously threatened after that. Williams had 26 points, hitting 12-of-15 field goals, most layins off of steals. Gallagher hit 4-of-7 three-pointers and finished with 14 points. Neither played in the fourth quarter.

"The entire team played well,'' said Gallagher, praising the work of his inside player.

Bremerton (1-1) hosts Bethel Tuesday.

* At Sequim 67, Coupeville 54 — Sequim, beaten 74-55 by Centralia Friday, took awhile to get going against Coupeville. Down by five at halftime, the Wolves outscored the visitors 19-4 in the third quarter to put it away.

Craig Knapp scored 20 points and Paul Manzer 15 for Sequim (2-1), which beat Forks 63-33 earlier in the week.

* At Quilcene 65, Mary M. Knight 37 — Quilcene's Ryan Newman scored 14, Allan Smith 12 and Aaron Vandeberg 10 as the Rangers used a 19-2 second-quarter outburst to pull away for its second straight win.

Quilcene (2-0), which beat the Chimacum junior varsity 57-39 Friday, hosts the Port Townsend JVs Tuesday.