PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula basketball men have been close in almost all of their games this year, but unfortunately, they are having trouble closing games out.
The Pirates suffered another close loss Sunday, falling in overtime 95-89 as Portland hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in overtime, then made a slew of free throws to pull away.
Eli’Sha Sheppard had a huge game in defeat, shooting 13 for 16 from the floor and scoring 30 points.
There were seven ties in the game and seven lead changes. Peninsula built up a lead as big as 11 points in the first half. The Pirates outshot (50 percent to 42 percent) and outrebounded (39-27) the Panthers, but fouls hurt them. The Pirates were called for 29 fouls and the Panthers 19, with the Panthers going to the free-throw line 34 times and Portland making eight more free throws than Peninsula. Two starters, James Buckley and Davien Harris-Williams, fouled out in overtime for Peninsula.
Erik Kelly had 12 points and nine rebounds, while Harris-Williams had 11 points and 11 assists. Samuel Kahapea scored 12 points, while Malik Moore scored nine. Buckley had six points to go with seven assists and three steals.
In four out the five Peninsula losses this year, the Pirates were in the game in the final minute.
Peninsula 78, Tacoma 63
The Peninsula men picked up their first win of the year with a balanced attack at home against Tacoma on Saturday night.
Five Pirates scored in double figures as the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field (31-64, 48.4 percent).
Sheppard and Kelly each scored 13, while Kahapea scored 12, Harris-Williams 11 (on 3 for 6 shooting from beyond 3-point range and Buckley 10.
Harris-Williams added six assists, while Sheppard had six rebounds. Kahapea and K’Lum Strickland each had five boards.
Port Angeles High School alum Luke Angevine scored seven points.
Port Townsend’s Kaiden Parcher, in his return to the Olympic Peninsula, scored four points for Tacoma.
Peninsula (1-5) next plays Centralia at the Triton-Pirate Classic at Edmonds College on Saturday.
Portland 95, Peninsula 89, OT
Portland 30 49 16 — 95
Peninsula 35 44 10 — 89
Portland (95) — Strickland 29, Boyer 15, Ritschard 14, Waters 13, Landi 12, Bendle 5, Farmer 3, Marcum 3.
Peninsula (89) — Sheppard 30, Kelly 12, Kahapea 12, Harris-Williams 11, Buckley 6, Moore 9, Strickland 4, Thomas 3, Glover 2.
Peninsula 78, Tacoma 63
Tacoma 33 30 — 63
Peninsula 39 39 — 78
Tacoma (63) — G. Kingman 27, Walker 11, Martin 8, Talen 6, A. Kingman 5, Parcher 4, Williams 2.
Peninsula (78) — Sheppard 13, Kelly 12, Kahapea 12, Harris-Williams 11, Buckley 10, Angevine 7, Strickland 4, Moore 3, Glover 2, Gonzales 2, Thomas 1.
