Photo: Pirate forward Makena Patrick smiles after setting up an easy assist to Alecsis Smith
By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — Alison Crumb’s Peninsula Pirates looked like a MAS*H unit through their first four games, but with six contests left before the Northwest Conference opener, the roster is finally getting healthy — and it shows. The Pirates have won four straight, and that streak could stretch to seven after this weekend’s Gator Classic at Green River College.
Peninsula features one of the most talented frontcourts in the NWAC, led by 6’0″ freshman Aspen Fraser of Herriman, Utah, who might be the best first-year player in the conference. Splitting minutes with Alecsis Smith, Fraser is averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, 6’2″ sophomore Alecsis Smith is now fully healthy and dominating. Smith is averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds, and shooting 52% from the field.
Fraser’s Utah club teammate, 5’9″ freshman Kimberlee Brown of Orem, is also off to a strong start, averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds per game.
Former Neah Bay Red Devil Ryana Moss brings the defensive intensity you’d expect from a two-time state champion — and she’s contributing offensively too, averaging 9 points, 5 rebounds, and hitting 31% from the three-point line.
Former Neah Bay Red Devil Ryana Moss is chasing an NWAC championship ring to go with her two high-school state titles.
At the point, 5’6″ sophomore Carliese O’Brien of Bethel, Alaska, is the prototypical Alison Crumb floor general: quick, fast, and with excellent court vision. O’Brien sprained her ankle in game two and missed a pair of contests, but she’s back steering an offense scoring 64 points per game — even with the Pirates giving bench players extended minutes. She’s averaging 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds per game.
The 4–2, No. 8–ranked Pirates face Clark College on Friday at 7:00 p.m., Green River on Saturday at 2:00, and an excellent 8–1 Wenatchee Knight squad on Sunday at noon. KONP Newsradio will broadcast Friday’s and Saturday’s games.
Former Neah Bay standout and Pirate alum Allie Greene is now a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. Greene has appeared in all 17 games with four starts, averaging 16 minutes and 4 points per game, and hitting 87% from the free-throw line.
For trivia buffs: Olympian and NFL legend Jim Thorpe is a Haskell alumnus.
Former Red Devil and Peninsula Pirate Allie Greene is now playing for Haskell Indian Nations University, an NAIA program in Lawrence, Kansas.