PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College women’s basketball returns to the court this week, and head coach Ali Crumb, in her 12th year, has a strong recruiting class to accompany returning sophomores Amari Brown and Cheyenne Wheeler.

The Pirates have struggled with injuries since training began in October, but despite those challenges, players and coaches who have been practicing are desperate for the season to get underway.

“This season means so much to us from an emotional standpoint,” Crumb said. “This pandemic has rocked the world and has affected so many people. However, for me, it has shown me what is really important and reinforced core values. I’m so lucky to have this job and am more thankful than I ever have been to be able to coach young women.

“When something is taken away, you realize how much it matters to you, and that is what this pandemic has done for me and for my players.”

Means more

“Basketball has meant more to us this year than ever, and we fight every day to protect the integrity of the game,” Crumb added. “This spring season is to get us better, to come together as a team and to build something special for next year as we strive for another NWAC tournament. We’re fortunate to play every game that we get this year, and we appreciate the opportunity, win or lose.”

The Pirates went 11-3 in the North Region and 18-7 overall in 2019-20, qualifying for the championship tournament for the sixth straight year. And while no champion will be officially crowned this spring, Crumb’s Pirates hope to be back in the postseason in 2021-22.

“We have a very balanced recruiting class,” Crumb said. “They are athletic, fast and complement each other very well. We are a little injury-battled, but the team has stayed tough and competed every day for the last six months.

“They are hungry and ready to compete, and I think they will put a very exciting product on the floor. Expect a lot of transition up and down the floor, as well as tough, in-your-face defense.”

Brown, a sophomore from Anchorage, Alaska, will be the only returning sophomore on the floor, as Port Angeles’ Wheeler is out with a torn ACL.

“Amari has proved to be a key leader for us this year and will play a pivotal role throughout this season,” Crumb said. “We have a lot of really great freshmen this year, as we have a very young team, but Sequim star Hope Glasser has stood out as an incredible leader and workhorse. She has improved so much already, and we will need her energy and toughness all season long. Arriyanna Camacho-Villafuerte has also proven to be a solid point guard who can shoot, attack and handle the ball. It doesn’t hurt that they are both lefties.”

Heavy with freshmen

The rest of the roster, all freshmen, include: Tayvia Cabatbat, Tatianna Kamae, Tasiah Little, Kimora Nicado, Daisy Owens and Keeli-Jade Smith. In addition to Wheeler, Taylor Hinds, Mackenna Sargent and Kayla Villamor are all out with injuries.

Assisting Crumb again this year will be Gabi Fenumiai and Mike Knowles.

The Pirates will be livestreaming all home games on NWACsports network.com, and fans may be able to attend contests later in the season.

Either way, PC fans are encouraged to go to printed fans.com and click on the Peninsula College link to order a fan cutout to help support Pirate basketball.

“The reality of this pandemic is hard to explain,” Crumb said. “The things this team has had to go through is something that no team in the history of Peninsula College has had to go through. We have had to quarantine multiple times, played through different phases of practice just to get to full team practices, and have been practicing with a mask on for six months. We haven’t been able to have as many team dinners, or activities, and they haven’t played a game in over a year.

“This is just the basketball stuff. The mental and emotional toll that this pandemic has put on our athletes is severe. Every sense of normal has been stripped from them at a young age, and while it is affecting everyone in this country, I especially feel for those moving away from home for the first time. They are not able to go home and visit their family, they can’t have visitors come see them, and they have lived in isolation thousands of miles away from their homes. I can’t imagine what that would be like in my first year as an adult.”

“On the positive side, this team is one of the closest teams I have ever coached,” Crumb said. “They are so humble and thankful to be able to play, and have an unprecedented appreciation for the game of basketball and for their Pirate Family. Win or lose, I will always remember this team and what they have sacrificed to be here.”