PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula men’s basketball team used a 20-6 run in the second half to blow open a close game, going on to beat Whatcom 73-57 Saturday to improve their record to 5-4.
“They threw a lot of different defense at us. They were mixing it up and keeping us off balance,” said coach Donald Rollman.
The Pirates had good balance with four players in double figures and eight players with at least five points. Peninsula was led by Isaiah Sampson, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Vince McFarland, who had 12 points and six boards.
Ty Artis had 11 points, seven rebounds and five steals, including a critical steal that helped spark the Pirates’ big second-half run. He also shot 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Keith Seldon had 10 points.
The Pirates managed to win despite not shooting well. They hit just 4-of-22 shots from behind the arc, but they did make 17 out of 19 free throws. Peninsula also outboarded the Orcas 43-29.
The game was close throughout the entire first half and well into the second half. The Pirates were clinging to a 46-43 lead with 11:30 left in the second half when they began their big run, which began with a Neal Garcia 3-point bucket.
Artis had a steal and a bucket, then was fouled and made a free throw for a three-point play. He added another basket for five straight points. McFarland scored two baskets during the run, and Rayshawn Harris hit two buckets, including a 3-pointer.
In just six minutes, the Pirates opened the lead up to 66-49. Whatcom never got the lead down to single digits after that.
Rollman credited tough defense and rebounding for the win. He said Peninsula had a plus-10 differential in rebounds in the second half and after this game is No. 2 in the NWAC for scoring defense at 69 a game.
Peninsula is scheduled to play at Everett (4-3) tonight, a makeup of a game postponed in April.
The Peninsula women didn’t play because of COVID-19 protocols with the Whatcom team. The Pirates women (2-3) are scheduled to play at Skagit (2-4) on Wednesday.
Peninsula 73, Whatcom 57
WCC 30 27 — 57
PC 33 40 — 73
Whatcom (57) — Benavidez 14, Jones 14, Smith 7, Neiman 6, Martin 4, McLin 4, Harris 3, White 3, Solomon 2.
Peninsula (73) — McFarland 12, Sampson 12, Artis 11, Seldon 10, Hunter-Holiday 8, Harris 7, N. Garcia 6, Rodgers 5, Medlock 2.
Peninsula’s Ty Artis, center, takes advantage of block planted by teammate KeAndre Hunter-Holiday, left, as he evades the defense of Whatcom’s Ayoni Benavidez during Saturday’s game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
