BELLINGHAM — Javon Ervin hit go-ahead shots in the final 30 seconds of regulation and overtime and the Peninsula College men’s basketball team rallied, survived and eventually knocked off Whatcom 79-78 in overtime Wednesday.
Ervin’s up-and-under layup with 27.8 seconds to play came on a dribble drive around a screen from the top of the key against Whatcom’s Noah McCord.
After a pair of timeouts, McCord got loose in the paint in between two Pirates but missed the short jump shot with 2.3 seconds left and Whatcom was unable to get a shot off after another timeout.
Overtime came after a wild end to the contest.
Up 67-65 after Ervin scored inside with 25 seconds to go in regulation, Peninsula’s Victor Meza made a clutch steal with less than 10 seconds to play and passed up court to Ese Onakpoma at the basket. Onakpoma, known for his acrobatic slam dunks, missed the chance at the game-ending slam.
Whatcom gathered the long rebound and drove up court to attempt a layup, only for Onakpoma to get called for goaltending and send the game to overtime.
Antonio Odum led Peninsula with 23 points on 11 of 14 shooting, with 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Ervin added 17 points and six rebounds with four assists.
The Pirates trailed 30-25 at halftime.
First-place Peninsula (6-2, 13-9) hosts second-place Edmonds (5-3, 15-8) at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Peninsula 79, Whatcom 78 OT
Peninsula 25 42 12 — 79
Whatcom 30 37 11 — 78
Peninsula (79) — Odum 23, Ervin 17, Onakpoma 16, Olmstead 10, Dunning 9, Rushmeyer 4, Odingo.
Whatcom (78) — McCord 25, Torkornoo 24, Madsen 14, Wabalaku 7, Phillips 4, Russ 2, Creswell 2.
Peninsula women win
BELLINGHAM — The Pirate women never trailed in picking up a road win over the Orcas.
Peninsula built a 15-point halftime lead.
Lainey Suaava came off the bench to lead Peninsula in scoring with 18 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.
Shania Moananu had 15 points, Ciera Tugade Agasiva added 13 and Alexa Mackey 12.
Neah Bay’s Allie Greene drained 4 of 8 3-point baskets on her way to 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The first-place Pirates (8-0, 15-2) host second-place Edmonds (7-1, 13-6) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Peninsula 87, Whatcom 69
Peninsula 23 20 22 22— 87
Whatcom 16 12 24 17— 69
Peninsula (87) — Suaava 18, Moananu 15, Greene 14, Tugade Agasiva 13, Mackey 12, Julmist 9, Bates 4, Marini 2.
Whatcom (69) — Miller 25, Murrell 11, Medico 7, Zamora 5, Ho 5, Ostrander 4, Rodriguez 4, Kantarevic 3, Huntington 2.
