PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s basketball team rediscovered its winning ways Wednesday night — barely.
Peninsula, down by as many as 10 points in the second half, needed a clutch shot from Ryan Rutherford and a solid defensive performance in overtime to beat the Everett Trojans 99-93.
Rutherford scored 30 points, including eight of the Pirates’ 14 points in the extra frame, and hit a dramatic jump shot that sent the game into overtime and a packed home gymnasium into delirium.
The Sequim alum also had seven rebounds and eight assists, helping Peninsula end a two-game losing streak that dropped it from the top spot in the NWAACC’s North Division.
“We really needed to get back on track,” Rutherford said.
“It’s definitely big [to come back and win].”
Peninsula’s scrambling defense along with some more clutch shooting from Rutherford helped it jump out to a 98-90 lead in the extra session that virtually put the game away.
“We finally played with a sense of urgency [in overtime],” Rutherford said. “It felt like we were just kind of going through the motions a lot of that game.”
Jason Gamblin added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Pirates (5-2 in North, 8-8 overall).
Bryce Jacobson came off the bench to score 12 points.
Trevant Musgrow had eight points and seven rebounds, while point guard Russell Jackson handed out seven assists.
“At the end of the game I think I had one returner and four new kids [out on the floor],” Peninsula men’s coach Peter Stewart said. “That’s impressive.
“I’m happy for them. This is how conference basketball is supposed to be.”
3-point barrage
Peninsula overcame a torrid 3-point shooting night from the Trojans (2-4, 4-10), who hit 14-of-38 from long range.
Dirk Snel (35 points), Aaron Matzen (23 points) and Teagan Dooley (14 points) took turns draining 3s in Everett’s fast-paced spread attack.
The teams played to a relative standstill in the first half, with Peninsula up 43-42 at the break.
Then Everett came out gunning in the second, going up by as many as 10 points at 80-70 with less than 10 minutes to go.
After a timeout, the Pirates answered with a 9-0 run of their own to get to within a point.
The lead changed hands a few times after that until Everett went ahead 85-83 with less than a minute to go.
“[Coach Stewart] just said we really have to get our heads in the game and stop playing like we’re scared or like people are just going to give it to us,” Rutherford said.
“We started to take a little bit of pride in our defense and it led to some good things offensively.”
Peninsula got the ball back with less than 25 seconds to go.
Yet rather than call a timeout, Stewart called a play from the bench as Rutherford got the ball on the right wing.
The 6-foot guard went left off a Gamblin pick into the paint, pump faked his man, pivoted, then drained a 10-foot leaner to tie the game at 85.
“We have last second situations offensively and defensively every day [in practice],” Stewart said. “We prepared for it, so why call a timeout and let them go?
“Nine times out of 10, it’s going to end up being a broken floor anyway.”
Hitting the road
Peninsula hit 53.7 percent of its shots (36-of-67) in the win, compared with 45.8 percent for Everett (33-of-72).
The Pirates now have two straight games on the road, beginning with Saturday’s contest at first-place Shoreline.
“Our philosophy has always been win at home and split on the road and you’ll have a chance,” Stewart said.
Peninsula 99, Everett 93
Everett 42 43 8 — 93
Peninsula 43 42 14 — 99
Individual Scoring
Everett (93)
Coch 9, Dhillon 3, Singh 3, Snel 35, Hennings 3, Showmake 1, Dooley 14, Low 2, Matzen 23.
Peninsula (99)
Manzanza 7, Jackson 3, Musgrow 8, Rutherford 30, Jacobson 12, Johnson 6, Gamblin 20, Worley 6, Collins 7.
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Women’s Basketball
EVERETT 65, PENINSULA 56
PORT ANGELES — A slow start doomed the Pirates to their seventh straight loss to begin the North Division season Wednesday night.
Peninsula came out flat from the beginning, going down 43-19 after one half of play.
The 24-point deficit, despite a 37-22 showing in the second half, turned out to be too much for the Pirates (0-7, 1-14) to overcome.
“We had a tough time hitting shots in the beginning and we sort of backed off and became less aggressive,” Peninsula coach Alison Crumb said.
“We came out in the second half with nothing to lose . . . and were just a lot more aggressive, a lot more confident.
“Until you get those first couple of wins, it’s hard to believe in what works.”
15-point players
Port Angeles Roughrider import Danika Goodwin, playing in just her third game for the Pirates, scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss.
Blair Musgrove added 15 points and six rebounds, while Jimesha Collins came off the bench to score 12 and dish out four assists.
Peninsula hit just 22.2 percent of its shots from the floor in the first half (6-of-27). Everett (4-2, 8-7) knocked down 44.4 percent of its shots (20-of-45) during the same time frame.
That, combined with 12 turnovers, ensured that the Pirates dropped their 12th game in a row.
“Everett is a good team,” Crumb said. “Being able to bring it back to within 10 and 8 points [after being down by 25] was a big confidence builder.
“We played well in the second half.”
Peninsula will have a good chance to snap that skid when it visits Shoreline, also winless in North play, on Saturday night.
“I think we’re ready,” Crumb said. “We’ve gone through a lot in the season, adding two players and getting everyone in the mix.
“It’s definitely on the up. I have a good feeling about Saturday.”
Everett 65, Peninsula 56
Everett 43 22 — 65
Peninsula 19 37 — 56
Individual Scoring
Everett (65)
Thomas 11, Tri 3, Ochiltree 16, Housden 9, Hagood 2, Work 16, Pierce 8.
Peninsula (56)
Musgrove 15, Collin 12, Garner 8, Houser 2, DeSantis 4, Goodwin 15.
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Sports writer Matt Schubert can be reached at 360-417-3526 or at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.