EDMONDS — The Peninsula College women’s basketball team took a step closer to a North Region championship while the North champion Peninsula men improved their record to 25-2 with a pair of road wins Saturday.
The women had their second-highest offensive output of the year with a 94-72 win over Edmonds. The men had a good first half, taking a 46-29 lead into the break, but then had to hold off a huge Tritons rally in the second half to win 75-70 in the late game.
It was the 11th straight win for the women and their second game this month with more than 90 points. In fact, since Jan. 28, the women are averaging 81.5 points a game.
Amazingly, the Pirates scored 94 points only making three 3-pointers. They shot 55.2 percent (37-for-67) from two-point range and they had an especially explosive third quarter, shooting 75 percent (12-for-16) and scoring 33 points.
Ituau Tuisaula and Millie Long each led the Pirates with 22 points with Tuisaula adding nine rebounds and Long eight. Tuisaula got her points shooting 10-for-14 from the field. Long shot 10-for-13 from the free-throw line. The duo combined for 20 points in the third quarter.
Adam Kaganak added 12 points and Chasity Selden had nine points and four assists off the bench.
Peninsula 94, Edmonds 72
PC 21 22 33 18 — 94
Seq. 13 17 17 25 — 72
Peninsula (94) — Long 22, Tuisaula 22, Kaganak 12, Selden 9, Marini 7, Kamae 6,. Donovan 6, Ross 4, Vaaia 4.
Edmonds (72) — Walters 12, Wardenaar 10, Jacobo 10, Young 8, Carter 9, Slippern 7, Woods 4, Brown 4, Bruseias 2.
Men’s game
The men had a healthy 50-31 lead early in the second half. The Tritons came roaring back, going on a 13-0 run to make it a game at 50-44 with still 14 minutes left. After battling up a hill all game, the Tritons finally caught the Pirates at 65-65 with three minutes left.
Edmonds was never able to take the lead. Peninsula got two buckets, two free throws and three rebounds from Roosevelt Williams Jr. in the final three minutes as the Pirates pulled away down the stretch.
Williams led the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ese Onakpoma had 15 points and Max D’Amato and Port Angeles’ Gary Johnson each scored nine points.
Peninsula 75, Edmonds 70
PC 46 29 — 75
Edm. 29 41 — 70
Peninsula (75) — Williams 20, Onakpoma 15, D’Amato 9, Johnson 9, Medlock 7, Ervin 6, Dean 6, Jackson 3.
Edmonds (70) — Lee 25, Frolich-Fair 12, Johnson 12, Stone 8, Zevenbergen 7, Anglin 4, Carandang 2.
Wednesday games
The men and women wrap up their regular seasons Wednesday at home against Everett. This is possibly a big game for the women.
The women (11-2, 19-4) have already clinched a berth in the Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs and already have at least a share of the North Region title. The Pirates might have to win Wednesday night against Everett (0-13, 3-20) to gain sole possession of the North championship.
Second-place Shoreline (9-3) has a makeup game at Bellevue (7-5) today. If Shoreline wins, the Dolphins could still tie with Peninsula for the North title. If Bellevue wins, that gives the North championship to Peninsula no matter what happens Wednesday.
The women play at 5 p.m. The men have already won the North but would like to go into the NWAC playoffs with momentum. They play second-place Everett (8-5, 21-7) at 7 p.m. Everett might be playing just to get into the NWAC playoffs so could be very motivated.
The NWAC playoffs begin March 8. The postseason tournament has been moved to Columbia Basin Community College this year in Pasco.
