PORT ANGELES — How to describe the success of Peninsula College’s basketball teams this season, in one sentence?

How about one letter: D.

Peninsula’s women’s and men’s squads, who both wrapped up Northwest Athletic Conference North Region championships last week, enter the postseason among the best defenses in their conferences.

The men rank fourth in the NWAC in scoring defense, giving up an average of 73.3 points per game.

The Peninsula women allow 57.7 points per game, which is second among women’s teams.

In the women’s team’s 27 games, opponents have scored 60 points or more only nine times. The Pirates have allowed 70 or more only five times, and only once in North Region play.

The Peninsula men, meanwhile, have allowed 80 or more points only seven times in 28 games this season, and only twice in region action. The Pirates haven’t allowed an opponent to surpass 80 points since their 81-72 loss to Olympic on Jan. 20.

How impressive is that? Well, 18 of the 33 NWAC men’s teams score 80 or more points per game, and 22 allow 80 or more per game.

Part of that defensive success can probably be attributed to the North Region being the second-lowest scoring conference with a combined average of 81.2 points (the West allows 76 per game).

However, against the two North teams that score more than 90 points per game, Edmonds and Everett, Peninsula has allowed 73.3 points.

And only once did the Tritons or Trojans score more than 80 points against the Pirates, and only twice did those squads put up more than 70 points.

Better when it counts

Statistically, the Peninsula men haven’t been overly impressive compared to the rest of the NWAC.

Along with their fourth-best scoring defense, the Pirates also are fifth in least amount of turnovers committed, tied for 10th in free-throw percentage, and along with Highline, have been whistled for the least amount of fouls in the conference.

Other than that, Peninsula ranks in the lower half of the NWAC it most statistical categories.

However, other teams don’t fare too well when they play the Pirates.

Peninsula outperforms its opponents in just about every statistical category. Good shooting teams get outshot when they play the Pirates. Good rebounding teams get outrebounded, and — scoreboard — high-scoring teams are outscored by Peninsula.

Among the elite

The Peninsula women, on the other hand, are one of the best statistical teams in the NWAC.

They rank second in scoring defense, sixth in scoring offense, second in steals and third in rebounding.

Although shooting seems to have been the Pirates’ weakness this season, they still are tied for eighth. They also are tied for eighth in free-throw shooting.

Plundering Pirates

Zhara Laster broke the Peninsula women’s program’s record for most steals in a season last week. Laster has 86 so far this year. The previous mark, set by Trista White in 2003-04.

Laster also is close to the school’s career steals mark of 145, held by Karli Brakes (2011-13). Laster is at 132 steals with as many as four games remaining.

It will be close, though. Peninsula will have to earn the right to play four games and Laster will have to surpass her average of 3.19 swipes per game to pass up Brakes.

Laster also will have to hold off teammate Imani Smith, who has 128 career steals. Smith needs to average 4.5 over four games to pass Brakes.

Free samples

Cierra Moss also is closing in on a school record.

Actually, she currently is in possession of it, and she just needs to keep shooting free throws in the neighborhood of her current pace.

Moss’ career free-throw percentage of 82 percent (164 for 200) is better than that of record-holder Ann Pettit, who made 78.5 percent of her freebies from 1998-2000.

Moss also has a shot at Taylor Larson’s season scoring record (470 in 2011-12). Moss has 405 points. If Peninsula plays four more games and Moss averages 16.3 points, she’ll pass Larson. Moss is averaging 15.6 points per game.

Of course, Moss has to play to even have a chance. She suffered a knee injury in the regular-season finale.

Cut the net

Since the Peninsula women wrapped up the North Region championship on the road last week, they will have a net-cutting ceremony today at 5:15 p.m. at the Peninsula College gymnasium.

This is the second consecutive season the Pirates have claimed the North crown.

Tournament games

Peninsula College will host an NWAC first round doubleheader this Saturday.

The women (22-5) face Treasure Valley (18-10) at 3 p.m.

The Peninsula men (18-10) play Chemeketa (18-11) at 5 p.m.

The losers of both games are eliminated from the postseason.

The winners advance to double-elimination portion of the tournament, at Everett Community College.

The women’s second round begins next Thursday, March 10.

The men’s second round starts Friday, March 11.

Saturday’s first-round games are run by the NWAC, so ticket prices are different. They are $10 for adults, and $7 for students, seniors and children ages 7-12. Ages 6 and younger get in free.

Also, Pirate Athletic Association membership passes will not be accepted.

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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.