PORT ANGELES — Early in the second half of Peninsula’s 73-47 victory over Edmonds on Wednesday, Taylor Larson took a pass from Karli Brakes and with her left hand banked the ball off the glass and into the basket.
With those two points, Larson became the Peninsula College women’s team’s all-time leading scorer, breaking the record of 794 set by Courtney Bridges, who played from 1998-2000.
“It was classic Taylor,” Pirates coach Alison Crumb said.
“Her consistency from that left block is unreal. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“And it’s very fitting that, on her record-breaking shot, that’s exactly where it was from, and it was from Karli Brakes, who gives [Larson] every opportunity to score as she possibly can.”
Brakes, who is on the verge of breaking the school’s career assist record, also played alongside Larson at Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska.
Five games to go
Larson now has 809 points with five games left in the regular season.
Larson said her Pirates teammates deserve a lot of credit for her record.
“It’s pretty exciting. It just means a lot to me because I knew the sacrifices that my team made for me to be able to do that, and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Larson, who scored 26 points in Wednesday’s game, said.
Larson already owned the Peninsula marks for scoring in a game (35) and a season (470), both set last year.
She’s not the only member of her family who shows up in the Pirates record books. Her sister, Danielle, is the school’s all-time rebounding leader with 382.
Taylor Larson said her effectiveness in the left post is the product of growing up in a basketball family.
“Basketball’s really big in my family. I grew up watching my dad and my siblings play, because I’m the youngest,” she said.
“I’ve just perfected it over the years. I’m left-handed, so it’s just my go-to move.”
Crumb was one of Danielle Larson’s Peninsula teammates during her time at Peninsula (2003-2005).
So, Crumb was familiar with Taylor Larson and well aware of the contributions she could bring to the Pirates.
However, she still had to work hard to convince the younger sister to come to Port Angeles, because Taylor Larson originally wanted to play softball.
Crumb’s efforts paid off, and Larson has been lighting up the scoreboard ever since, averaging 16.8 points as a freshman and 17.8 this season.
“What’s so rewarding for me is the type of person she is,” Crumb said.
“It’s always good to see good athleticism bred with good character. To see her name in the record books for probably a long time gives me nothing but pride.”
Crumb adds that good character has been a hallmark of this year’s team.
None of the Peninsula players have resented that Larson has been the dominant scorer the last few seasons. Rather, they’ve been supportive of her as she closed in on the record.
On Wednesday night, the Pirates showed similar support for Abigail Jones when she grabbed her 10th rebound with just over two minutes to play in the game.
Jones finished with 11 boards and a career-high 24 points.
“She just came into this game determined — she wanted a double-double,” Crumb said.
“She wanted to be able to be an offensive threat, and she wanted to get double-digits in rebounds. She’s been reaching the cusp of that in every game.”
Brakes had a solid all-around performance with nine points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
The Pirates next play Saturday at Skagit Valley (7-2, 15-7), which is in a three-way tie with Whatcom and Bellevue for first place in the NWAACC North Division, one game ahead of Peninsula (6-3, 11-8)
“That’s going to be a big game for us,” Crumb said.
“Skagit’s at the top of the league, we’re at the top of the league. Both teams need this. It’s going to be a battle, and I’m excited for it. I think it will be a close game.”
