By Oly Archibald
PASCO — The 2025–26 Final Four season for the Peninsula Pirates ended Friday night with a 74–62 loss to Walla Walla, who went on to repeat as NWAC champions by defeating previously unbeaten Clackamas 57–46 in the title game.
The Pirates were dealt a major blow early when first-team All-North Region sophomore guard Ryana Moss went down with a lower-leg injury. Moss attempted to continue playing but was clearly limited and could only log six minutes. Without their top defender and three-point specialist, the Pirates struggled to keep pace with the Warriors most of the night.
Peninsula trailed by just four points after the first quarter, 15–11. However, Walla Walla outscored the Pirates 22–11 in the second quarter to take a 37–22 lead into halftime.
The Pirates came out strong in the second half, putting together an eight-point run to cut the deficit to seven. But Walla Walla controlled the boards, outrebounding Peninsula 55–33, while the Pirates missed several point-blank opportunities inside.
Sophomore post Alecsis Smith had a huge second half, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.
Malia Garcia came off the bench and continued her strong play with 11 points. Makena Patrick added 10 points, while Aspen Fraser contributed nine. Kimberlee Brown scored five points and Haley Ostrander hit a three-pointer.
Sophomore point guard Carliese O’Brien, playing with a torn ACL, logged 18 minutes and scored four points.
Despite the loss, it was a rewarding season for the Pirates. With Brown, Fraser, Marly Myers and Garcia returning, and with the strong recruiting classes head coach Alison Rose consistently brings in, Peninsula will likely again be favored to win the North Region next season and make another deep run in the NWAC tournament.
In girls softball action, the Port Angeles Roughriders may struggle against Lynden and Lynden Christian in basketball, but in softball they have dominated Whatcom County teams over the past five years.
Port Angeles opened the season with a five-inning 15–0 blowout over Lynden, followed by a hard-fought 2–1 win over Lynden Christian.
Against the Lions, Lower Columbia College signee Lynzee Reid pitched four innings with six strikeouts while allowing just two hits. Highly touted freshman pitcher Allison Leitz earned the save by retiring the final three batters on just three pitches.
At the plate, Reid had two singles off the fence, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Kennedy Rognlien added a hit with two RBIs and scored two runs. Mikkhia Stevens reached base three times and drove in two runs with a single, while freshman Allison Leitz recorded her first varsity hit.
Port Angeles Roughrider senior pitcher and Lower Columbia College signee Lynzee Reid earned the win in a 15–0 five-inning season-opening blowout over Lynden.
In the 2–1 win over Lynden Christian, Reid pitched the first five innings with four strikeouts and no runs allowed. Leitz earned the win, pitching the final two innings with one strikeout while allowing no hits or runs.
Shortstop Morgan Politika delivered the game-winning RBI single, while Stevens added a key bunt single to drive in a run.
Port Angeles shortstop Morgan Politika delivered the game-winning RBI single in the Roughriders’ 2–1 victory over Class 1A state power Lynden Christian.
In soccer, the Port Angeles Roughriders fell behind Bremerton 2–0 in the first 15 minutes but rallied with three straight goals to win their Olympic League opener 3–2.
Tanner Lagrange had a goal and an assist, Matthew Miller scored once and added an assist, and Aurelio Wilson Rojero also scored for the Riders.
And congratulations to former Roughrider Parker Nickerson, whose Skagit Valley Cardinals defeated Lower Columbia College 77–72 to win the NWAC men’s basketball championship.
Former Port Angeles Roughrider Parker Nickerson will be getting a new NWAC championship ring after his Skagit Valley Cardinals defeated Lower Columbia College 77–72 in the title game.