PORT ANGELES — The defending NWAACC champion Peninsula College men’s basketball team started its 2011-12 season off with a bang, dropping Grays Harbor 102-57 on Tuesday night.
It was both teams’ non-conference season opener.
Wake Forest transfer JT Terrell led Peninsula with 30 points while sophomore Dudley Ewell, who missed all of 2010-11 with a knee injury, made his Pirate debut with 15 points and six rebounds.
Corey Clement, another sophomore transfer, finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while Djuan Smith contributed 12 points and led the defense with five steals.
Tyler Funk narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and eight assists, one of those a pass off the backboard followed by a spectacular one-handed jam by Terrell.
All 11 players on Peninsula’s active roster played Tuesday and all contributed to the blowout.
Peninsula shot 54 percent from the field (40 of 73) while Grays Harbor was held to 37 percent shooting (20 of 54).
The Pirates outrebounded the Chokers 44-32 and also won the turnover battle (11-20).
Terrell, who’s first Pirate hoop was a two-handed throw down off a steal, started off chilly from the perimeter, but heated up and finished the day 13 of 21 from two-point range and 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Clement had an impressive night, shooting 5 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line.
The Pirates travel to North Idaho College in Cour de Alene this holiday weekend where they will play Williston State, Salish Kootenai and North Idaho on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They return home to face Highline at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3.
