BELLINGHAM — The Peninsula College men’s and women’s basketball teams opened North Division play facing the NWAACC’s men’s and women’s second-leading scorers.
And against the Pirates, Kyle Impero and Kortney Grattic looked like the second-leading scorers in the conference.
Impero (28.4 points per game) scored 40 points to lead the Whatcom men’s team to a 99-76 win over the Pirates.
In the women’s game, Grattic (19.7 ppg) netted 36 points as the Orcas beat Peninsula 76-62.
Grattic was especially productive at the free-throw line, where she made 14 of 15 tries. From the field, the freshman forward shot 11 of 23.
Kayla Tiemersma added 18 points and 18 rebounds for Whatcom, which improves to 5-6 on the season (1-0 in North Division).
Peninsula’s Gabi Fenumiai had another solid game, scoring a team-high 17 points and grabbing nine boards. She now ranks second in the NWAACC in rebounding with 13.1 per game.
Madison Pilster, the conference’s 12th-best rebounder (8.6 rpg) tied Fenumiai for the team lead with nine boards to go along with 10 points.
The Pirates continue to be a strong rebounding, grabbing 41 boards to Whatcom’s 43.
Peninsula’s leading scorer Alison Knowles scored 13 points, but seven of those came from the free-throw line as the sophomore struggled from the field, making only 3 of 19 shots and missing all eight of her 3-point attempts.
The Pirates (0-1, 3-8) had more of a balanced scoring effort than has been the trend this season, as Pherrari Brumbaugh scored eight and Miranda Schmillen added seven.
Brumbaugh also had six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Peninsula women play their first home game of the season against Edmonds (0-1, 1-10) on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
Whatcom 99, Peninsula 76
BELLINGHAM — Impero reached his season high in points by making 14 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and 8 of 9 at the free-throw line.
He also tied for the game-high with nine rebounds. Teammate Eric Fongue had nine boards and 22 points.
For the game, the Orcas (1-0, 8-3) shot 61 percent from the field.
The Pirates, meanwhile, made 41 percent of their field-goal attempts.
Xavier Bazile again led Peninsula in scoring with 21 points, but only made 6 of 20 field goals.
Peninsula’s second-leading scorer Tyler McKinney was 3 for 11 from the field and finished with eight points.
For the most part, rest of the Pirates had better shooting nights.
Daren Hechanova made 8 of 12 from the field for 18 points. He also had five rebounds and five assists.
Markus Rawls had 11 points (4 of 7 from the field), Erron Shamlin scored nine (4 of 9) and Juwan Flowers made all three of his field-goal attempts for seven points.
Bazile led Peninsula with six rebounds.
The Pirates were outrebounded 43-27, but only turned the ball over three times in the game.
Peninsula (0-1, 6-4) lost its third straight game after starting the season 6-1.
The Pirates host defending division champion Edmonds (0-1, 8-6) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Tritons aren’t quite the same team as last season, though, with standout Shaquielle McKissic now playing at Arizona State.
