PORT ANGELES — ?The young Peninsula College men’s basketball team (2-1) showed its? inexperience Friday night in their opener of the Inaugural First Federal Pirate Classic, falling 83-73 to a more-seasoned Blue Angels team Friday night.
The Blue Angels are comprised of former college and professional players who travel and play against colleges and other semi-professional clubs throughout the season.
The Pirates came into the game shooting 56 percent on field goals and 48 percent on 3-pointers but only connected on 31 percent on field goals and 13 percent on 3-pointers against the physical Blue Angels defense.
?”We got down early and then we began to rush everything we do on the court,” Peninsula head coach Lance Von Vogt said.
“Their physicality and experience hurt us at times [Friday night].
“We will learn from our mistakes and come back stronger because of it.
“The true mark of championship teams is how they respond to adversity, so that is how we will measure ourselves moving forward.”?
Salim Gloyd led the Pirates by scoring 22 points and securing 17 rebounds in the contest.
Djuan Smith added 18 points and six rebounds while Daniel Sims contributed six points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.
The Blue Angels were led by Mo Anderson, 2012 MVP of the International Basketball League while playing for the Bellingham Slam, who came extremely close to a triple double while totaling 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Other notable players for the Blue Angels are Chris Faidley, all-time points-scoring leader at Whitman College, who contributed 18 points on 6-of- 11 shooting from beyond the arc; Paul Haffner, Western Washington University, 18 points; and Paul Richards, University of Washington, five points and five rebounds.
One former Peninsula Pirate standout, Cody Smithson, logged 20 minutes for the Blue Angels, contributing eight points and four rebounds.
In the first game of the classic Friday night, the Seattle Mountaineers toppled the Shoreline Dolphins 130-78 in an awesome scoring display.
The Mountaineers are another travelling professional squad that will be touring China on a basketball tour immediately after playing in the Pirate Classic.
?Mike Ward sank a game-high 24 points for the Mountaineers while teammates Jamar Berry and Chris Weakley scored 23 each.
Jason Waltman pumped in 16 as four players scored in double figures.
Dewayne Watkins led on the boards with 10 rebounds while Berry and Franklin Igebkoy hauled down seven each.
Reggie Chambers dished out 13 assists.
