PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s and women’s basketball teams swept their games Saturday night.
The Pirate women’s thrilling 77-75 come-from-behind victory over Lower Columbia was one of the most exciting and well-played women’s basketball games fans have witnessed under head coach Alison Crumb, according to athletic director Rick Ross.
The third-year coach guided her freshman-dominated team to a win in their home opener in a game that had a big crowd on its feet through the final minute.
The Pirates built a 17-14 lead through the early going but didn’t lead again until 43 seconds to go when Abby Jones drove the baseline and put up an 8-foot jumper to make it 75-74.
Lower Columbia knotted the game with a free throw with 19 seconds remaining.
The Pirates then moved the ball upcourt, worked it around the perimeter and it was Jasmine Yarde who drove into the paint and put one off the glass with her left hand for the game-winning shot with just three seconds showing on the scoreboard clock.
A Lower Columbia Red Devil Hail Mary shot fell short and the fans showed their appreciation to the Pirates.
It was a hard-fought game with the Devils’ biggest lead at eight, 74-66 with 2:42 to play.
Taylor Larson had an outstanding night with 20 points while Yarde hit for 15 and contributed five assists and six steals.
Jones scored eight and led on the boards with six while Karli Brakes, who suffered a serious blow to the nose early in the game, came back to lead the Pirates with 11 assists, which ties Peninsula’s school record, held by Trista White and Ali Crumb.
For the game, Peninsula out-rebounded the Red Devils 36-33 and outshot them, hitting 52.5 percent from the floor to the Red Devils’ 47.3 percent.
The Pirates next travel to the Pierce Tournament in Tacoma on Friday, opening against Pierce College at 8 p.m.
No. 1 Pirates hold off No. 7 Highline
PORT ANGELES — Pirate fans filled the Peninsula College gym Saturday night to see the defending NWAACC champion and top-ranked Pirates battle seventh-ranked Highline — and they got their money’s worth.
Peninsula won 70-67.
The Pirates bolted out to a 20-6 lead as their swarming defense was giving the Thunderbirds trouble through the early going.
But Highline settled in and chipped away — and it was 34-29 at the break.
The high-flying Pirates, who were averaging 91 points a game, could not get much offense going against the big T-Birds and maintained a narrow lead throughout most of the second half.
Highline, however, pounded the Pirates inside and eventually tied it at 55-55 with 6:16 to go — and the two teams matched hoops from there on out.
J.T. Terrell hit a 3 to put the Pirates up 68-65 in the closing minutes and then converted two free throws to provide the final margin of victory.
Terrell led all scorers, hitting on 10 of 22 field goals, 4 of 10 3-point attempts and a brilliant 14 of 16 from the free throw line to finish with 38 points.
Djuan Smith added eight points, including an electrifying dunk in traffic, Dudley Ewell had seven points and nine rebounds and point guard Tyler Funk led all Peninsula rebounders with 10 and added seven assists.
The Pirates are now idle until Dec. 16 when they travel to Salem, Ore., to play in the Chemeketa Tournament.