SPORTS: Peninsula College men’s basketball team opens season with a victory

  • By Brent Sorenson Peninsula Daily News
  • Sunday, November 22, 2009 12:01am
  • Sports

By Brent Sorenson Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s basketball team tipped off the new season with an impressive 87-72 victory over Highline Community College on Saturday night.

Pirates’ guard Ryan Rutherford of Sequim led the way with a game-high 21 points with two 3-pointers.

He also had a team-high five assists.

Rutherford scored the first hoop of the season, a 10-foot baseline jumper on Peninsula’s first possession.

The Sequim guard’s first-half defense kept the Pirates close.

The game was tied 37-all at halftime.

The Pirates offense was rushed and out of sync most of the first period with forward Jason Gamblin picking up three fouls.

The Pirates took over halfway through the second half.

Christian Manzanza, a forward, led a 12-3 run that finally put some distance between the teams with seven minutes remaining and he had an emphatic slam dunk on a perfect feed from Rutherford.

Manzanza sank 16 points for the Pirates.

“I’m very pleased with the contributions of all 11 men [on the team],” Peninsula coach Peter Stewart said.

“It’s players that make the games. I stayed out of the way and they did a heck of a job,” said Stewart.

Though the game turned out to be a strong start for the Pirates, Stewart identified some areas of play that need improvement.

“We need to learn where and when to go offensively and to be more patient.”

Manzana also was 8-for-8 in free throws and led the team with eight rebounds.

Jason Gamblin added 14 points while Tre Musgrow had 11 for the Pirates.

Peninsula next travels to the Red Devil Classic at Lower Columbia College in Longview on Friday.

More in Sports

Roy angler John Keizer caught this chinook while fishing off the coast last summer. Salmon seasons negotiations are underway this month.
OUTDOORS: Odd-year pinks no friend to kings, orcas

Crowding chinook out of lower river spawning sites

Penina Vailolo of East Jefferson was voted to the Nisqually League’s first team. She averaged 11.2 points and 11.7 rebounds a game this year for the Rivals.
ALL-NISQUALLY LEAGUE: Rivals’ Vailolo makes first team in girls basketball

East Jefferson girls basketball post player Penina Vailolo made the… Continue reading

TULSA, Okla. — This past weekend, members of the Lincoln Park BMX traveled to Tulsa, Okla., for the track operator summit and Lincoln Park received an award for being the No. 8 track out of 115 tracks on the West Coast. From left, are Cody Wilson Director of Track Operations USABMX, Sean Coleman, president/track operator of Lincoln Park BMX; Tommy Schroeder, volunteer and coach; Tami Baeder, volunteer registration lead; and Nichole Beal, Lincoln Park vice president and volunteer.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Lincoln Park BMX recognized by USABMX

This past weekend, members of the Lincoln Park BMX… Continue reading

Peninsula College's Jaiden Blackmon goes up for a layup against Everett College in Port Angeles on Jan. 25.  Blackmon's the team's leading scorer at 15.5 points a game, is looking to help lead the Pirates into the playoffs with a win tonight over Shoreline. (Jay Cline/Peninsula College)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Huge home games Wednesday night for the Pirates

The Peninsula College men’s and women’s basketball teams are… Continue reading

Bronze Team Photo: Nora Pecoraro, Addie Brown, Kinley Matthews, Lucy Monaghan, Adrie McGuire, Sasha Gmazel, Penny Goodwin, Reagan Haguewood
KLAHHANE GYMNASTICS: Xcel bronze team takes third at Great Wolf Lodge invite

The Klahhane Gymnastics Xcel teams competed at the Great Wolf… Continue reading

Abraham Montealegre, Forks wrestling.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Abraham Montealegre, Forks wrestling

Forks’ Abraham Montealegre kept up a tradition for the Spartans’ wrestling program.… Continue reading