BY OLY ARCHIBALD
PORT ANGELES — It was heartbreak city for the Peninsula Pirates men’s basketball team last night as they lost at the buzzer on a three-foot tap-in, falling 75-74 to Shoreline. The loss ended the Pirates’ season. Had they won, they would have qualified for the NWAC tournament.
Free throw shooting was a major factor in the Pirates’ defeat. Shoreline went 13-of-18 from the line, while the Pirates struggled, making just 4-of-11. The Pirates also missed three straight free throws down the stretch.
Jaiden Blackmon led the Pirates with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Lopez added 15 points, Akeem Sulaiman scored 14, and Antonio Odum contributed 12 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.
The Pirates finished the season with a 7-7 conference record and a 13-14 overall mark.
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On the women’s side, the third-ranked Pirates dominated an overwhelmed Shoreline team, cruising to a 91-19 victory. The Pirates scored 23 points in the first quarter—four more than Shoreline managed the entire game.
All 10 Pirates who played contributed to the scoring.
Freshman Alecsis Smith (6’3″) once again came off the bench and dominated in her 17 minutes on the floor, leading the Pirates with 19 points and seven rebounds. Ciera Agasiva added 14 points and dished out nine assists. Jelissa Julmist posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Makena Patrick and Lexie Mackey each scored 11 points while grabbing six rebounds.
Pirates’ 6’3″ post Alecsis Smith played just 17 minutes against Shoreline but still scored 19 points and pulled down 7 rebounds.
Kadie Wood of Forks had a career-high 10 points and pulled down four rebounds. Kiyara Miller chipped in five points, Veniza Jackson scored four, and Ryana Moss and Shania Moanunu each added three.
The win marked the Pirates’ 21st straight victory and their 40th consecutive conference win. Over the last two seasons, the Pirates are a perfect 28-0 in conference play.
The Pirates will begin NWAC tournament play on March 5th at noon against Chemeketa.
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The Sequim Wolves (19-4) will open boys regional play Friday night against the Lindbergh Eagles (14-10) at the UPS Fieldhouse in Tacoma.
The Wolves previously defeated the Eagles 63-44 in their season opener at Sequim. They are led by 6’6″ junior James Huff, who averages 17 points and 8 rebounds per game, and 5’10” senior John Choul, who averages 13 points per game.
Lindbergh Eagles’ 6’6″ junior James Huff averages 17 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. The Eagles are 14-10 on the season.
The winner will advance to Yakima on March 5th for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against the loser of the No. 1 seed Lynden vs. No. 8 seed Mark Morris game.
Friday night’s game will be broadcast live on KONP Newsradio and streamed at myclallamcounty.com. The Les Schwab Tires Pre-Game Show starts at 5:45 p.m., with tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
Wolves head coach Craig Brooks has the Sequim Wolves one win away from a trip to Yakima for the state tournament, which begins on March 5.
Oly Archibald and Bill Bates will have the play-by-play.