The Peninsula Pirates mens basketball team opened the season unranked, but after this weekends two big wins in Tacoma, maybe the Pirates should be ranked. On Friday night the Pirates beat Tacoma on their home court 67-55. The Pirates got of to a very slow start trailing Tacoma 14-2. The Pirates began fighting and clawing their way back and trailed 29-22 at the break. The Pirates then outscored the Titans 45-26 in the 2nd half for the 67- 55 win. Mikey Medlock led the Pirates with 14 points. Roosevelt Williams Jr hit for 13 points and Freshman point guard Javon Ervin had 10 points. In his first game as a Pirate, Aiden Olmstead the prized recruit out of North Kitsap High School showed his great athletic ability by pulling down 13 rebounds and scoring 6 points.
On Saturday the Pirates went back to Tacoma as underdogs to take on the NWACs 3rd ranked Green River Gators. In a great basketball game the Pirates came away with a huge early season upset of the Gators 69-66. Former Roughrider Gary Johnson had 6 points as did Esa Onakpoma and Max D’Amato. The Pirates will have a 3 day tournament at Skagit Valley stating Friday. The Pirates will play Douglas College, the Northwest Indian College and Big Bend.
The Number 1 ranked Pirate Women had a very tough trip to Pasco losing to 5th ranked Walla Walla 61-54 and Columbia Basin 89- 75. There is no reason for Pirate fans to worry the Pirates are still with out Millie Long and New Mexico Lobo transfer Chasity Selden who has to sit out until January because of transfer rules. When Pirate Head Coach Allison Crumb was asked how long would it take Long to get to 100% basketball mode from her soccer season, Crumb stearnly said, “About 5 minutes”!
In the loss to Walla Walla Itua Tuisaula led the Pirates with 24 points and 13 rebounds and Adam Kaganak hit for 12 points.
In the loss to Columbia Basin Freshman Jenilee Donovan hit for 20 points and Tati Kamae had 12 points.
Pictured is Former N.K. Viking Aiden Olmstead