PORT ANGELES — All winning streaks eventually end, but the Peninsula College men’s basketball team’s 13-game unbeaten home streak, one that dates back to Feb. 17, 2010 when Edmonds stopped a Peter Stewart-coached squad 89-88, did not end without a fight.
The seventh-ranked Whatcom Orcas held off a furious Peninsula comeback in the final three minutes to hand coach Lance Von Vogt his first loss on Pirate turf, 74-71, Wednesday night.
The Orcas were up 69-58 with 2:29 remaining when the NWAACC’s second-ranked Pirates cranked up the defense and battled back.
J.T. Terrell and Tyler Funk hit back-to-back 3s to close it to 69-65 with 1:06 remaining. A hoop in the paint by Dudley Ewell made it 72-69 with 32 seconds left and then, following two Terrell free throws, the Pirates got the ball back, trailing 73-71.
Last shot
Daniel Sims got off a runner from 8 feet with 5 seconds left that would have sent the game into overtime, but his shot banked off the rim and the Orcas came up with the rebound and added a free throw to win by three.
Terrell got a quiet 20 to lead Peninsula before fouling out in the final seconds, Ewell hit for 15 points and had three steals, Funk added 13 points and five assists and Sam Waller chipped in 10 points and five assists.
Corey Clement played very big for the Pirates off the bench with a strong defensive effort.
Peninsula’s big 6-foot-7 post DeShaun Freeman was held to nine points and five rebounds before being ejected down the stretch for what the officials determined was a flagrant elbow.
Peninsula had won three straight home games this year, after going 9-0 at home last year and finishing the previous season with a win to account for the 13-game streak.
The Pirates (12-2, 2-1) travel to Edmonds and Everett and Saturday and Monday.
Women’s Basketball
Peninsula 68, Whatcom 59
PORT ANGELES — The Pirates rebounded from a disappointing home loss to Skagit Valley by stopping Whatcom 68-59 Wednesday night in front of a big home crowd.
Juneau, Alaska, freshman Taylor Larson was unstoppable from the post, pouring in 25 points and pulling down nine rebounds to lead the Pirates while Abby Jones scored 12 with seven boards, Jesse Ellis hit for eight points and six assists, and Karli Brakes added eight points, five assists and five steals.
The game pitted two evenly matched teams and it was anyone’s game to win.
The Pirates went out in front early, opening up a 32-24 lead at halftime but Whatcom tied it at 44-44 with 8:50 remaining.
The Pirates regained the lead on a free throw by Jones with 6:50 to go, and her teammates then rallied to put the game out of reach on hoops by Megan Smith, Brakes, Larson and Ellis.
Peninsula also made 11 free throws down the stretch, including four from Jasmine Yarde.
It was a great team win for coach Ali Crumb and her women, who will take an 2-1 league and 8-5 overall record on the road to Edmonds and Everett on Saturday and Monday.