PORT ANGELES — The key to taking the Peninsula Pirates out of their comfort zone is to put them in a zone.
The Peninsula College men’s basketball team closed out the two-day First Federal Pirates Classic with a 86-72 loss to South Puget Sound on Sunday.
“We didn’t execute very well out of their pressure and their 2-3 zone defense,” Pirates coach Mitch Freeman said.
Freeman said Peninsula practices facing zone defense, but is still struggling with it during games. The offense stalls and mistakes happen.
The Pirates stacked up with or exceeded South Puget Sound in many statistical categories, but the Clippers attempted 12 more shots and made seven more. Hence the 14-point deficit.
“Way too many turnovers,” Freeman said. “Turnovers that led to baskets ultimately led to us losing.”
Dez Stoudamire scored a game-high 28 points for South Puget Sound. The cousin of former NBA and University of Arizona standouts Damon Stoudamire and Salim Stoudamire made 9 of 19 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 from 3-point range.
In the Clippers’ first game of the Pirate Classic on Saturday, Stoudamire put up 41 points in a 95-92 overtime win over Skagit Valley.
“He’s a really good, and all-NWAC player,” Freeman said.
Stoudamire’s 26.5 points per game average is the best in the Northwest Athletic Conference.
South Puget Sound led 43-30 at halftime and then held off Peninsula’s attempts to rally.
Deonte Dixon paced Peninsula with 19 points. He made 4 of 10 shots from downtown and 6 of 12 overall.
Dixon ranks ninth in the conference in scoring at 19.7 points per game.
Three others scored in double figures for the Pirates, and the team’s three post players each had nice all-around performances.
Dimitri Amos scored 17 points off the bench, making 8 of 11 shots, and grabbed six rebounds, four off the offensive glass, and blocked two shots.
Jeremiah Hobbs finished with 11 points, a team-high seven rebounds and five blocks.
Malik Mayeux only scored three points, but contributed six rebounds, six assists and a pair of blocks.
“Our bigs played well,” Freeman said. “When we could get the basketball into Malik, Jeremiah or Dimitri, we did well.
“It was the inside-out attack that wasn’t very effective.”
Ryley Callaghan scored 11 points and had six rebounds and six assists for the Pirates.
Peninsula slipped to 3-4 with a road trip to Southwest Washington on tap later this week. The Pirates face Centralia (0-5) on Friday and defending NWAC champion Clark on Friday. Clark (4-0) is ranked No. 3 in the first Alaska Airlines Coaches Poll that was release last week. (See complete poll on Page B2.)
Before then, the Pirates will have some time off to focus on finals, but will work on attacking zone defenses when they can practice.
Film of every game is available to all coaching staffs, so opponents will likely try to exploit what has been a weakness so far.
“I would, if I was a team,” Freeman said.
“We know that we’re going to see zone against Clark because that’s what they do.
“But first we have Centralia; it’s a one-game-at-a-time mentality.”
Tacoma 79, Skagit Valley 64
The first day of the Pirate Classic features two tight games. The second day wasn’t nearly as exciting.
After losing to Peninsula 75-72 on Saturday, the Titans rebounded Sunday to drop the Cardinals on Sunday.
Tacoma (3-4) was led by Patrick Ling, who scored 21 points and had nine rebounds. Kahleil Wyatt added 19 points.
Skagit (3-3) was led by Ben Ayre with 24 points, while Cody Starr finished with 14.
The NWAC North went 1-3 at the Pirate Classic: Peninsula won one of two games and Skagit lost both of its games.
Tacoma 79, Skagit Valley 64
Tacoma 34 45— 79
Skagit Valley 29 35— 64
Individual scoring
Tacoma (79)
Ling 21, Fountain 4, Wyatt 19, Ozolin 10, Thompson 7, Powers 3, Nelson 9, Chisolm 2, Nuefville 4.
Skagit Valley (64)
Sphreyregin 4, Kidd 6, Novak 5, Starr 14, James 2, Ayre 24, Siale 2, Hunt 6, Gorbenko 1.
South Puget Sound 86, Peninsula 72
South Puget Sound 43 43— 86
Peninsula 30 42— 72
Individual scoring
South Puget Sound (86)
Gonzales 2, Watts 8, Burian 6, Stoudamire 28, Meade 11, Kuajian 15, McGrew 3, Bird 13, Deloney.
Peninsula (72)
Callaghan 11, Daniels 5, Dixon 19, Amos 17, Mayeux 3, Baham 6, Hobbs 11, Lo, Reis, Nibler.
