By Jim Hoehn
Special to the Peninsula Daily News
EVERETT — Darrion Daniels converted a midcourt steal into a tie-breaking layup and the Peninsula Pirates added a pair of clutch 3-pointers down the stretch en route to a 70-62 victory over Portland Community College in the first-round of the NWAC Championship Tournament Thursday morning at Everett Community College.
With the game tied 58-58, Daniels tapped the ball away from all-South Region selection Andre McCowan near the halfcourt line and drove for the score to put the Pirates up 60-58 with 2:52 remaining.
“It was a big gamble. I already had three fouls, but I felt that if I get it, I could put my team in the lead,” said Daniels, a sophomore guard from Las Vegas.
“Not comfortable, but we got a little weight off our shoulders. I just really took a gamble and came up with it.”
After a pair of scoreless possessions by the Panthers, Jalon McCullough hit one of two free throws, followed by Trent Warren’s 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 64-58 with 1:24 left.
Portland’s Cameron Retherford countered with a half-hook from the lane, but Cole Rabedeaux answered with another 3-pointer from the left corner, giving the Pirates a three-possession lead at 67-60 with 32 seconds left.
The Pirates (19-8), the No. 2 seed in the North Region and tied for seventh in the final NWAC coaches poll, advances to Friday’s Elite 8 matchup at 2 p.m. against Tacoma (15-14), the No. 4 seed in the West Region, which rallied to stun top-ranked North Idaho, 86-81.
“I thought we showed tremendous toughness,” said Peninsula coach Mitch Freeman.
“That was something we determined going into this game, especially against a team like Portland, who we played earlier this year. In years past, coach [Tony] Broadous’ teams are very tough. Rebounding, they’re physical, so we had to show some toughness, that was No. 1.”
Daniels, a first-team all-North Region pick, had 20 points, Alex Baham added 14 and McCullough 11 for the Pirates, who overcame a 10-point deficit midway through the first half. McCowan led the Panthers with 19 points, Gabe Garrett had 14 points and Retherford finished with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
In a game that started at 8 a.m., Portland (12-15), the No. 3 seed in the South Region, jumped out to a 20-10 lead before the Pirates turned up their defensive intensity and found their long-range accuracy.
Peninsula, scoreless from beyond the arc in the early going, hit four 3-pointers in the final 4:53 of the half to pull within 30-28 at the break.
“We knew if we got stops, we could push the ball,” McCullough said.
“Getting stops and rebounding. We knew our offense would fall, so defense was definitely what we were looking for. We knew we just had to stay in it.”
Peninsula, which defeated Portland 78-65 in late November, continued the momentum into the second with a 10-3 run, taking a 38-33 lead on Kevin Baker’s inside basket with 17:23 remaining.
Daniels hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 50-42, but Portland answered with a 12-1 run, going in front 54-51 on two free throws by Garrett with 7:32 left.
Daniels’ scoring drive and two free throws by Baham put the Pirates back in front 55-54. The lead changed hands until McCowan’s jam brought Portland even at 58-58 with 3:40 left.
Baham was called for an offensive foul on Peninsula’s next possession, but Daniels responded with his key defensive play to put the Pirates up 60-58, a lead they would not relinquish.
“That was a huge play,” McCullough said.
“At that point in time, the game could go whichever way. Like I said, defense. We got a stop, we got a steal.”
Sam Velez, a 6-9 freshman forward, came off the bench for a team-high seven rebounds – including five huge offensive rebounds — to help the Pirates to a 41-36 advantage on the boards. Velez also blocked three shots in his 24 minutes.
“No. 35 [Velez] hurt us,” said Portland coach Tony Broadous.
“He had three offensive rebounds in the second half. He’s a guy that’s off the bench, not much on the scouting report, then he gets in and gives them three extra possessions. He ends up with five offensive rebounds in the game. People underestimate how important that is.”
Baham hit three 3-pointers as Peninsula enjoyed a 15-point advantage from long range. The Pirates were 8 of 24 from beyond the arc, while Portland was just 3 of 17.
The Pirates were 14 of 21 from the free-throw line, with all seven misses coming in the second half.
“Tomorrow we’re going to have to clean that up,” McCullough said. “Lace ‘em up and go hard.”
Peninsula 70, Portland 62
Portland 30 32 — 62
Peninsula 28 42 — 70
Portland (62) — McCowan 19, Garrett 14, Retherford 12, Papa-Vicente 9, Shephard 5, Morales 3, Moring, Parnell, Galberth.
Peninsula (70) — Daniels 20, Baham 14, McCullough 11, Rabedeaux 8, Baker 6, Lo 5, Warren 3, Velez 2, Day 1.
Rick Ross/Peninsula College Peninsula’s Darrion Daniels, left, drives to the rim past a Portland defender during the Pirates’ 70-62 victory during the first round of the NWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Everett Community College.
