By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — In NWAC basketball action, it was good news, bad news and great news for the Peninsula men’s basketball team last night.
The good news: with three minutes left, the Pirates held a four-point lead against third-ranked Skagit Valley, which came in at 26-3.
The bad news: Peninsula had chances to ice the game in the final seconds but missed the front end of three one-and-one free throw opportunities, keeping the Cardinals alive. Skagit Valley then hit a shot with 1.3 seconds remaining to escape with a 59-58 win.
Now the great news: Shoreline upset Everett on Everett’s home floor, which clinched the fourth and final NWAC tournament berth for the Pirates. Peninsula is headed to Pasco.
Freshman guard Sam Tekeste led the Pirates with 15 points and seven rebounds. Patrick O’Dingo also scored 15, adding six rebounds and five assists. Former Roughrider Gus Halberg chipped in eight points.
Pirate guard Sam Tekeste scored 15 points in a one-point loss to third-ranked Skagit Valley. Photo by Jay Cline
The Pirates will travel to Columbia Basin College to face the Eastern Conference’s top seed, sixth-ranked Treasure Valley. That game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th, with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
On the women’s side, the Pirates — now 14-0 in conference play and 22-4 overall — won their 53rd consecutive Northern Conference game, defeating second-place Skagit Valley 74-49.
After a 15-15 tie at the end of the first quarter, Peninsula broke it open by outscoring the Cardinals 18-9 in the second quarter to take a 33-24 halftime lead.
Six-foot-two sophomore Alecsis Smith delivered another outstanding performance with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Kimberlee Brown added 15 points, while point guard Veniza Jackson scored 13. Aspen Fraser finished with 10 points and six rebounds, and Ryana Moss added eight.
Pirate sophomore Alecsis Smith dominated again, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds in Peninsula’s 74-49 win over Skagit Valley. Photo by Jay Cline
The Peninsula Pirates improved to 14-0 in conference play and 22-4 overall, capturing another Northern Conference championship.
The Pirate women open NWAC tournament play Saturday, March 7th at 2:00 p.m. against Eastern Conference fourth seed Treasure Valley.
A win would move Peninsula into the Elite Eight the following day against the winner of the South Puget Sound–Umpqua game.