Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — Peninsula fell at home to Edmonds 78-73 in a grinder of an NWAC North men’s basketball contest on Monday.
The loss dropped the Pirates (5-5, 8-16) into a tie for the fourth and final NWAC North playoff berth with Whatcom (5-5, 11-11). Peninsula does hold the head-to-head advantage with the Orcas, having beaten Whatcom 88-86 last month. The two teams square off in Bellingham tonight.
Against Edmonds, Peninsula found itself in a close game throughout. The Pirates and Tritons were tied at 34-all at halftime.
The Pirates had chances in the final moments.
Erik Kelly tipped in a missed shot to give Peninsula a 73-72 lead with 1:33 to play.
Nyair Cleveland had the ball stolen away with the Pirates trailing 74-73 at the one-minute mark and Edmonds converted the runout layup to go up three. Cleveland had 13 points for Peninsula.
Davien Harris-Williams had a look to tie the game at 76-all out of a timeout, but couldn’t add another game-winner to his season’s collection when his step-back 3 missed the iron with 47 seconds left to play. Harris-Williams led the Pirates with 25 points, five assists and seven rebounds.
Kelly got the offensive rebound for Peninsula and was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-0ne. Kelly ended with 14 rebounds and nine points off the bench for the Pirates.
Edmonds picked up a crucial offensive rebound after a missed shot on its next trip down court with less than 10 seconds to go and hit two free throws to seal the win.
Edmonds 78, Peninsula 73
ECC 34 44 — 78
PC 34 39 — 73
Edmonds (78) — Magaoay 25, Kirk 13, Tetrault 9, Burns 8, Lawson 7, Weary Jr. 7, Doyle 4, Hamilton 3, Kolly 2,
Peninsula (73) — Harris-Williams 25, Cleveland 13, Kahapea 12, Kelly 9, Moore 8, Buckley 4, Thomas 2, Angevine, Glover.