PORT ANGELES — Every game is an adventure for the Peninsula College men’s basketball team in the balanced Northwest Athletic Conference North Division.

The Pirates came up on the short end of an 82-80 loss to Skagit Valley on Wednesday when the Cardinals’ Dason Youngblood hit two free throws with eight seconds to play.

Peninsula had tied it up at 80-apiece when Skagit Valley fouled Colby Jackson to protect a three-point lead with 16 seconds to play.

This was a close game the entire way, with the Pirates up by five at halftime, 40-35.

The lead changed hands seven times in the final 8:09 of the contest with Skagit Valley going up for the first time in the second half on a basket by Eshaya Wade with 36 seconds to play.

Forks’ Marky Adams led Peninsula in scoring with 19 points on 7 0f 10 shooting from the floor and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. He added six rebounds.

Trent Warren hit 3 of 6 from behind the 3-point line on his way to 17 points for the Pirates. He had a team-high eight rebounds.

Justin Burks led all scorers with 27 points for Skagit Valley. Teammate Wade added 22.

It was another tight defeat for Peninsula. The Pirates’ last three games have been decided by a total of five points, and Peninsula has gone to overtime in two of its last four contests.

The NWAC North standings are a testament to its balance.

Everett (4-1, 16-4) is in sole possession of first place, with Bellevue (3-2, 14-6)) and Whatcom (3-2, 10-9) tied for second. A logjam exists for fourth, with Peninsula (2-3, 12-8) tied with Edmonds (2-3, 14-6), Olympic (2-3, 12-6), Skagit Valley (2-3, 8-11) and Shoreline (2-3, 6-10).

Peninsula visits Edmonds at 4 p.m. Saturday with both teams looking to snap two-game losing skids.

Skagit Valley 82, Peninsula 80

SKV 35 47— 82

PEN 40 40— 80

Skagit Valley (82) — Burks 27, Wada 22, Youngblood 14, Maudin 9, Anderson 6, Ayala 4,

Peninsula (80) — Adams 19, Warren 17, Jackson 14, Buckley 8, Crane 7, Burton 6, Sheppard 5, Day 2, Williams 2, Huish.

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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.