PORT ANGELES — Coach Mitch Freeman said the Peninsula Pirates want to play “Peninsula College basketball” when they face Chemeketa on Saturday in the opening round of the Northwest Athletic Conference men’s tournament.
So what is Peninsula College basketball?
“Sharing the ball, finding each other, attacking gaps, attacking the basket, finding each other, moving without the basketball,” Freeman said.
“Those are the things we need to be in-sync on. Those are the things that we’ve been able to do lately.”
The Pirates, who are ranked second in the final NWAC coaches poll, enter the game having won nine of their past 10 games. And that one loss was to Shoreline last week in the regular-season finale when only one of their top seven players played more than half of the game.
Over the past six weeks, the Pirates have been experts at playing Peninsula College basketball.
And continuing to do so will be the most important part of Peninsula’s game plan against Chemeketa on Saturday.
“We really like our guys, in terms of what we’ve been able to do,” Freeman said.
“Regardless of what team we’re playing, we have to worry about what we are doing and not necessarily so much about what they’re doing.”
The Storm finished fourth in the high-scoring South Region.
They average 89.2 points per game. They shoot well from 3-point range but also can attack the basket and draw fouls.
It’s a tough matchup. The Pirates have to guard the 3, but also keep the Storm out of the lane.
“It’s important that we guard the basketball because we can’t help off a lot,” Freeman said.
Chemeketa also will try to get up and down the court quickly. Freeman said the Pirates won’t force a slower pace, but they will try to restrain the Storm.
“They want to establish tempo, and so we want to combat that by controlling the tempo,” Freeman said.
“We want to make sure we get the ball under control.”
Chemeketa allows 85.4 points per game. The only team in the NWAC tournament that gives up more is Clackamas.
However, Freeman said the Storm are adept at switching defenses and forcing “uncomfortable shots.”
“We have to impose our will a little bit,” Freeman said. “Do the things we’ve been doing.”
Saturday’s game starts at 5 p.m., following the Peninsula women’s team’s game against Treasure Valley.
If Peninsula beats Chemeketa, they’ll advance to face the winner between Spokane and South Puget Sound next Friday at Everett Community College.
Tickets to Saturday’s doubleheader are $10 for adults, and $7 for students, seniors and children ages 7-12. Ages 6 and younger get in free.
Because the games are run by the NWAC, Pirate Athletic Association membership passes will not be accepted.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
