PHOTO: Former Peninsula Pirate Ituau Tuisaula and her Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are headed to the NCAA Tournament.
BY OLY ARCHIBALD
UNDATED — Former Peninsula Pirate Ituau Tuisaula and her Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated Southeastern Louisiana 75-65 in the Southland Conference Championship, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament. During ESPN’s highlights of the game, Tuisaula was seen placing the Lumberjacks’ mascot sticker on the Southland Conference Championship bracket board, signifying the team’s NCAA tournament berth.
This Sunday, the NCAA will reveal the men’s and women’s basketball tournament brackets. The men’s bracket will be announced at 3 p.m. on CBS, while ESPN will reveal the women’s bracket at 5 p.m.
The accolades keep coming for Millie Long, who has been named to the NCAA Division II All-West Region team. Long and her fourth-seeded University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves begin their NCAA Division II Tournament run tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Carson, California, against No. 5 seed Montana State Billings.
Former Port Angeles Roughrider and Peninsula Pirate Millie Long has been named to the NCAA Division II All-West Region First Team.
Peninsula Pirates in NWAC Final Four
The Peninsula Pirates women’s basketball team faces Lane College in the NWAC Final Four tomorrow at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, with a noon tipoff.
The Titans, undefeated at 31-0, edged the Pirates 81-76 in overtime on Nov. 22. Peninsula had a late lead in regulation, but two missed free throws and a costly inbounds turnover allowed Lane to force overtime.
The Titans average 84 points per game while allowing 53, while the Pirates score 76 and also give up 53. Lane is led by 5-foot-4 sophomore guards Emma McDonald (Milwaukie, Ore.) and Micah Wicks (Roseburg, Ore.), both averaging 17 points per game. Inside, the Titans rely on 6-foot-1 sophomore Lillee Duffin (Idaho Falls), who averages 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Lane’s 5-foot-4 sophomore guard Emma McDonald, averaging 17 points per game, leads an explosive Titans offense that scores 84 points per game.
Peninsula (24-2) enters the matchup on a 23-game winning streak. The Pirates feature 6-foot-3 freshman Alecsis Smith (15 ppg, 8 rpg), 5-foot-11 sophomore Jelissa Julmist (10 ppg, 9 rpg), 5-foot-10 sophomore Lexie Mackey (13 ppg, 8 rpg), and 5-foot-9 freshman Makena Patrick (7 ppg, 6 rpg). Their size advantage could help them control the paint against Lane’s sharpshooting guards.
Regardless of the outcome, this weekend will be an emotional one for the Pirates as they bid farewell to standout sophomores Ciera Agasiva, Shania Moanunu, Kadie Wood, Lexie Mackey, and Jelissa Julmist.
Former Sequim Wolf Jelissa Julmist has had an outstanding four-year career at Sequim High School and Peninsula College.
The winner will advance to Sunday’s NWAC Championship at 2 p.m. against the Umpqua-Walla Walla winner. The game will be broadcast on KONP Newsradio, with the Les Schwab Tires Pregame Show beginning at 11:45 a.m.
Golf Results
In boys’ golf, Port Angeles defeated Sequim 173-205. Cale Wentz led the Roughriders with a 42, followed by Tate Alton (43), Sky Gelder (44), and Max Gagnon (44). For Sequim, Adrian Aragon carded the lowest individual score with a 41, while Cody Dunscomb shot a 52, Joey Kang a 54, and Levi Breuthaupt a 58.
In girls’ golf, Port Angeles edged Sequim by five strokes. The Roughriders’ Mia Neff led with a 50, followed by Malena Marquez (55), Autumn Wilson Rowland (56), and Claire Osterberg (59). For Sequim, Kendra Dodson shot a 51, Raimey Brewer a 55, Payton Sukert a 59, and Sarah German a 60.
Soccer and Baseball Updates
In soccer, Port Angeles shut out Forks 2-0. Tonight, Sequim visits Bremerton at 7 p.m., while tomorrow, Port Angeles plays at East Jefferson at 1 p.m.
In baseball, Port Angeles hosts the Ingraham Rams tomorrow at Civic Field with a 3:30 p.m. first pitch. Sequim will host a three-team jamboree at noon.
In fastpitch softball today, Sequim hosts Forks in a doubleheader, with the first game starting at 3 p.m.