By Oly Archibald
PASCO — The 4th ranked 21-2 Peninsula Pirates women’s basketball team will open up NWAC tournament play at Noon against the 14-13 Centralia Trail Blazers the 4th seed from the Western Conference.
Make no mistake, this is not just a show up and win game for the Pirates. Centralia has all Freshman on their roster, and they have greatly improved throughout the season. The Trail Blazers were 8-4 in the always tough Western Conference.
Centralia is led by 5’8″ freshman Madison Gore of Houston’ Texas. Gore was the MVP of the Western Conference and the Freshman of the Year. Gore averages 17 points per game and 6 rebounds per game. Maya Bennett, a 5’10” freshman was a 2nd team All-Conference selection and averages 13 points per game and 6 rebounds per game. 5’8″ Foai Pula, a 5’8″ freshman, averages 14 points per game. Marcia Bennett is a 5’10” freshman averaging 6 points per game.
Madison Gore out of Houston Texas leads Centralia in scoring at 17 ppg and was the MVP of the Western Conference
The Trailblazers have good size on the low blocks with 6’0″ Freshman. Meletava Fonohea scores 5 points per game.
Centralia averages 60 points per game compared to 68 points per game by the Pirates. Centralia gives up 61 points per game while the Pirates give up just 52 points per game.
The Pirates have a big advantage at the 3-point stripe, hitting for 31% while Centralia only hits for 21%.
The Pirates will counter with their own Conference MVP in Freshman. Shania Moananu. Moananu averages 10 points per game and runs the Pirates up tempo offense.
Her back court buddy Ciera Agasiva, also an All-Conference selection, averages 11 points per game, 5 rebounds per game and shoots 77% from the line. Sophomore Jennilee Donovan a 2nd team.
Pirate Head Coach Allison Crumb, the former PA Roughrider, has her Pirates as a favorite to make it too the final four
All Conference selection averages 8 points per game and has had the hot hand from the 3-point line. Former Sequim Wolf Jelissa Julmist has been outstanding but will be greatly tested in Pasco by the top post in the NWAC. Julmist is averaging 9 points per game and 7 rebounds per game.
Front line teammate Lexie Mackey; the 5’11” freshman out of Melbourne, Australia; was voted to the All-Conference Defensive team. Mackey is averaging 8 points per game. Former Neah Bay Red Devil Allie Greene knows all about winning Championship rings.
Greene, a 3-point shooting specialist is averaging 8 points per game. Lainey Suaava; a 5’11” Freshman from Palmer, Alaska; has had an outstanding season backing up Julmist.
Sophomore Talia Marini has also had a solid season backing up the Pirate starting guards.
The winner will play tomorrow at 2:00 against the winner of the Yakima Valley – Umpqua game.
You can hear today’s game right here on KONP Newsradio and on the stream at myclallamcounty.com. The pregame starts at 11:45.
Former Sequim Wolf Jelissa Julmist has had an outstanding season for the Pirates averaging 9 ppg and 7 ppg
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The Port Angeles Roughriders baseball team has their season open at home tomorrow against Sehome with the first pitch at 1:00.