johnson

Photo:  Peninsula College’s Gary Johnson hit five, 3 point shots and had game-high honors with 17 points

BELLINGHAM — The Peninsula Pirates basketball teams took care of buisness last night blowing out Whatcom in both games. The 5th ranked women won 75-55 but had a ice cold 1st quarter and were tied with Whatcom 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. That’s when the Pirate big guns opened up on the Orcas. Chasity Selden came off the bench and started hitting three balls. Millie Long scored from all over the floor, and Tati Kamae controlled the paint. The Pirates outscored the Orcas 28-14 in the 2nd quarter for a commanding 41-27 halftime lead. Millie Long had game high honors with 21 points. Chasity Selden threw in 18 points and  Kamae had 15 points.  Jenilee Donovan had her usual solid game and had 9 points. The Pirates are now 3-2 in conference play and 11-4 overall.

When a former Roughrider leads the Pirates in scoring, of course Millie Long pops into everyone’s vision. Not so fast my friends,  last night it was former Roughrider Gary Johnson leading his Pirates with 17 points in a hard fought 89-70 win over the Orcas. The Pirates struggled early to make shots and fell behind 7-0. The Pirates then scored 9 straight points for a 9-7 lead. The Orcas then ran off 11 consecutive points to take a 18-9 lead. Then here come the Pirates as they tied the game at 20-20 and led at the half 30-26.   When the Pirates needed a spark to flame their offense it was the old Roughrider Gary Johnson who hit five, three-point shots and had high game honors with 17 points who heated up the Pirates offense. Roosevelt Williams Jr  hit for 16 points. The 2nd ranked Pirates have won 11 games in a row, they are 5-0 in conference play and 18-1 overall. The Pirates host Edmonds on Saturday then have a huge game at Everett next Wednesday.

The Olympic League championship is on the line tonight as those always super talented Vikings sail in to Roughrider Gymnasium from Poulsbo to steal the prized jewels for their own instead of sharing the championship trophy like they did last year with the Roughriders. The Vikings 11-0 in league play lead the Roughriders by a game who are 10-1. The Vikings have been in a league of their own lately destroying everyone in their path. Meanwhile the Roughriders demeanor may be a little fragile after blowing a 16-point lead to 5th ranked Renton and a narrow 2 point win at Bainbridge on Tuesday night. The game will be broadcast on KONP Newsradio with the Les Schwab Tires pre-game show at 6:45 pm and the tip off at 7 pm. Oly Archibald and Joe Gladfelter will have the play by play.

Do not miss what should be an entertaining Roughrider VIP Halftime show as Oly Archibald will have a live interview with 2 members of the Roughrider bowling team, Zoey Van Gordon and Abby Robinson. Gordon and Robinson will talk about their stunning 2nd place team finish at the league tournament and if they are planning anything special for the district meet this Saturday in Tacoma.

In girls basketball action tonight the Roughriders will have a solid road test at North Kitsap with the tip off at 7 pm.