BREMERTON — Talk about an up-and-down, topsy-turvey and inside-out game.
That was the Peninsula College men’s basketball NWAACC showdown with Olympic on the road Wednesday night.
The Rangers, in sixth place in North Division standings at 5-10 in conference, 8-17 overall, have given the Pirates fits the two times they have played.
Peninsula, clinging onto second place at 12-3, 22-4, finally beat the Rangers 88-83 but it wasn’t easy.
The Pirates held a comfortable 14-point lead in the first half but it had been whittled down to 46-43 at halftime.
Then things went really crazy in the second half with the Rangers taking a 10-point lead with 14 minutes to go, only to have the Pirates rally to tie and then a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way.
The Pirates finally took control late.
“Olympic played terrific but our guys matched them and played with a lot of heart,” coach Lance Von Vogt said.
J.T. Terrell sparked Peninsula with 34 points, seven boards and two assists.
DeShaun Freeman netted 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double while Corey Clement added 14 points and seven boards.
Tyler Funk and Sam Waller dished out five assists each for the Pirates.
Mauricio Modestin and Cartiea French-Toney combined for 44 points for the Rangers with Modestin swishing in 24.
Josh Koets dominated the boards with 18 rebounds for Olympic.
French-Toney led the Ranger attack with 11 assists and five steals.
The Pirates now conclude the regular season at home Saturday night against Bellevue.
Action starts at 7.
Women’s Basketball
Peninsula 74,
Olympic 55
BREMERTON — The Pirates stayed a game ahead of Whatcom in the North Division with the victory over the Rangers on Wednesday night.
Peninsula is in third place at 11-4, 17-8 overall, with Whatcom a game back at 10-5 with one game to go in league play.
The Pirates end the regular season at home against Bellevue on Saturday night at 5 p.m.
Bellevue sits in second place at 13-2.
Jesse Ellis led the Pirates with 20 points while Jasmine Yarde and Taylor Larson canned 10 each.
Ellis and Larson both earned double-doubles with 10 rebounds apiece.
Karli Brakes led with six assists while Megan Smith had a team-high five steals.
For Olympic, Danielle Stewart had 17 points and 11 boards.
Alyson Chandler added 11 points for the Rangers.
