OLYMPIA — The Peninsula men’s basketball team advanced to the finals of the NWAC Crossover Tournament after outlasting Grays Harbor 74-72 at South Puget Sound Community College.
Deonte Dixon led the Pirates with 34 points in Saturday’s contest, overcoming a tough 8 of 26 night from the floor with a terrific 12 of 14 performance from the free-throw line in the victory.
With the victory, Peninsula’s second in two days after a 91-80 win over Walla Walla on Friday, the Pirates advanced to the tournament final.
Peninsula led 45-30 at halftime and had to hold off the Chokers in the final moments.
Jal Deng and Jeremiah Hobbs each missed out on double-doubles by close margins. Deng finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while Hobbs scored eight points and hauled down 14 rebounds, nine of them on the offensive glass.
Ryley Callaghan hit for 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting for Peninsula, and Malik Mayeux had a well-rounded stat line, scoring seven and grabbing 10 rebounds with three assists, two blocks and two steals.
The Pirates ended up with a 53-31 rebounding advantage and forced 19 Grays Harbor turnovers, while committing only 11.
K.C. Harrison led the Chokers with 27 points, and Darrell McCall added 20 for Grays Harbor.
After the tournament final, Peninsula (5-5) is on winter break until it opens NWAC North Division play with a home game against Edmonds on Saturday, Jan. 10
