PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College women’s basketball team earned a rare victory over traditional NWAACC powerhouse Skagit Valley on Saturday night.
The Pirates not only beat the Cardinals but dominated them with a balanced attack, winning 92-65 to improve to 2-1 in the North Division standings and 7-6 overall while Skagit Valley fell to 1-2, 9-7.
In another rarity, the Peninsula men’s team beat Skagit Valley by nearly the same score of the women, winning 97-64 for a Pirates’ sweep.
Peninsula women’s coach Allison Crumb said Skagit Valley is one of the most consistently dominant teams in NWAACC.
“I have never won a league game against Skagit Valley and I do not know many [Peninsula] past teams who have except for the 2005 North Division championship team.
“This was a huge win for our girls and our program.”
The Pirates were led by sophomore guard Jasmine Yarde, who had 24 points, shooting 11 of 19 from the field.
Yarde also had a blocked shot while Jonica Durbin earned two blocked shots in the game.
Jesse Ellis, who made her official return to the Pirates after being out for seven weeks with a stress fracture to the foot, netted 18 points on 9 of 18 shooting from the field.
“She has played very limited minutes for us these past two days as we have been trying to see how she is doing physically, but [Saturday night] she started for us and gave us a huge advantage in the game,” Crumb said.
Ellis also had five rebounds and six assists.
“We are definitely glad to have her back.”
Sophomore guard Karli Brakes, meanwhile, led the team in assists with 11.
“She is continually leading our team in a positive direction,” Crumb said about Brakes.
Others in double digit scoring were Taylor Larson with 14 and Pherrari Brumbaugh with 10.
Abigail Jones contributed seven assists for the Pirates.
Laken McClelland led the Cardinals with 26 points while Sophia Baetz added 16.
“Ultimately, this was a team win, we had 10 people in the scoring column and had a very fluid rotation,” Crumb said.
“At this point in the season we are starting to see how good we can potentially be.
“I think this is the biggest win we have had since I have been coaching and I think this points us in the right direction for the following league games.
“It will be a tough road, but we have now seen some things starting to click for us.
“Great win, tough team, relentless focus and effort. Can’t ask for more.”
The Pirates next play at Everett (2-1, 8-7) on Wednesday. The two teams are tied for third place behind division-leading Whatcom and Bellevue (3-0 each).
Peninsula College 92,
Skagit Valley 65
Individual scoring
Skagit Valley (65)
McClelland 26, Baetz 16, Nash 8, Duncan 3, Johnson 3, Miki 6, Boyd 3.
Peninsula (92)
Yarde 24, Ellis 18, Larson 14, Brumbaugh 10, Henderson 5, Durbin 2, Roland 2, Jones 6, Brakes 7, Knowles 4.
Halftime score: Peninsula 44, Skagit Valley 27.
Men’s Basketball
Peninsula 97, Skagit Valley 64
PORT ANGELES — Djuan Smith and Xavier Bazile combined for 52 points, just 12 less than the entire Cardinals’ team scored, to spark the Pirates in the nightcap game of the doubleheader Saturday night.
Smith swished in 30 points while Bazile added 22 with 9 of 15 shooting from the field.
Bazile also had seven rebounds and a blocked shot as the Pirates improved to 2-1 in the North Division and 11-5 overall while the Cardinals fell to 0-3, 7-9.
Other Pirates scoring in double figures were Donald Gaddy with 12 and Aaron Clark with 10.
Salim Gloyd pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds and he also scored seven points.
TreShawn King Dunbar led the Pirates with 12 assists and he tied for steals with Smith and Gaddy with three each.
Isaac Ladines led Skagit Valley with 15 points.
The Pirates next play at Everett on Wednesday. Everett is tied with Edmonds at 3-0 each for first in the North Division while the Pirates are deadlocked with Bellevue for third in league at 2-1 apiece.
Peninsula College 97,
Skagit Valley 64
Individual scoring
Skagit Valley (64)
Ladines 15, Newman 11, Garcia 10, Daniels 5, Kirkpatrick 7, Cox 9, Gallagher 5, Zimmerman 2.
Peninsula (97)
Smith 30, Bazile 22, Gaddy 12, Clark 10, Visser 2, King Dunbar 7, Domach 6, Crouts 1.
Halftime score: Peninsula 58, Skagit Valley 27.
