BELLINGHAM — Whatcom’s Kyle Impero blistered the nets for 37 points and the Orcas pulled away in the second half to hand the Peninsula College men’s basketball team its second straight loss.
Impero was lights-out on the night, shooting 57 percent from the field, 16 of 28, and 45 percent from 3-point range, 5 of 11.
Zach Stalin added 18 points for the Orcas as they led by just 35-30 at halftime, but increased the lead by outscoring the Pirates 43-28 in the second half.
The Orcas controlled the boards, 43 rebounds to 26 as Stalin and Impero hauled down nine each and Nicholas Kussman had a game-high 10.
Djuan Smith led the Pirates with 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the floor, and he brought down a team-high seven boards.
Salim Gloyd and Aaron Clark netted nine points each for the Pirates while Gloyd also had six rebounds. Gatpan Panaom also blocked two shots for Peninsula.
Stalin dished out a game-high five assists while Chris Tanis had three blocked shots for the Orcas.
Whatcom broke a tie between the two teams for second place and improved to 6-2 in the North Division and 14-6 overall while the Pirates fell to 5-3, 14-7.
It doesn’t get any easier for Peninsula as the Pirates now host NWAACC powerhouse Edmonds on Wednesday night.
The Tritons remain the lone undefeated team in conference with an 8-0 record, 18-2 overall.
Whatcom 78, Peninsula 58
PENINSULA (5-3, 14-7)
Panaom 2-4 0-2 4, Clark 4-7 0-0 9, Visser 2-3 0-0 4, Smith 6-12 2-2 15, Bazile 1-5 1-2 3, Ward 0-0 0-0 0, King-Dunbar 1-7 5-6 7, Domach 0-0 0-0 0, Crouts 0-0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2-11 3-4 7, Gloyd 3-9 2-2 9. Totals 21-58 13-18 58.
WHATCOM (6-2, 14-6)
Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Duncan 2-6 2-2 6, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Impero 16-28 0-1 37, Kussman 2-5 1-2 6, Pierce 1-1 0-0 2, Buchanan 0-1 0-0 0, Hartnell 1-1 0-0 2. Tevos 0-6 0-0 0, Fongue 1-5 0-0 3, Stalin 4-15 9-11 18, Tanis 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 29-71 12-16 78.
Halftime: Whatcom 35-30. 3-Point Goals: Peninsula 3-13 (Clark 1-3, Smith 1-1, Bazile 0-1, King-Dunbar 0-4, Gloyd 1-4); Whatcom 8-21 (Duncan 0-2, Impero 5-11, Kussman 1-2, Buchanan 0-1, Tevis 0-2, Fongue 1-2, Stalin 1-1). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Peninsula 26 (Smith 7), Whatcom 43 (Kussman 10). Assists: Peninsula 6 (Visser, King-Dunbar, Gloyd 2); Whatcom 14 (Stalin 5). Steals: Peninsula 8 (Smith, King-Dunbar 3); Whatcom 3.
Women’s Basketball
Whatcom 66, Peninsula 63
BELLINGHAM — Cambie Edwards and Bree Park combined for 34 points to spark the Orcas to the close North Division victory.
This game came down to the final seconds with the Pirates in the game until the end.
“Overall, it was a very exciting game,” Peninsula coach Alison Crumb said.
There were eight lead changes and seven ties throughout the 40 minutes, and it came down to the wire.
Peninsula was down one with 36 seconds to go and Whatcom had the ball.
The Pirates went into a full-court press and forced a travel that occurred during an aggressive trap with 10 seconds to go.
Peninsula tried to take the lead but lost the possession with a travel of its own.
With only 5 seconds left, Peninsula had to foul and Whatcom finished on both of those free throws.
Taylor Larson led Pirates with 16 points and seven rebounds while Jasmine Yarde had 15 points and five rebounds, and Abigail Jones added 13 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the field.
Karli Brakes and Jesse Ellis each chipped in five assists.
Whatcom stayed on top of the North Division standings with the win at 7-1 in NWAACC action and 14-6 overall while the Pirates fell to 5-3 in conference and 10-8 overall.
Edwards and Park sparked the Orcas with 17 points each as Edwards earned a double-double with a game-high 16 boards.
Also scoring in double figures were Erika Locker with 13 and Amanda Tapia with 10.
For Whatcom, Tapia and Park had five steals each while Park als had a game-high six assists and Tapia added five.
The Pirates next game is at 5 p.m. on Wednesday against Edmonds.
At this game, Larson is expected to break the all-time scoring record for the women at Peninsula College.
She currently has 783 total points and the all-time scoring mark is 794 by Courtney Bridges set in 1998-2000.
Whatcom 66, Peninsula 63
PENINSULA (5-3, 10-8)
Henderson 0-2 0-0 0, Durbin 0-5 1-2 1, Jones 6-9 1-3 13, Bfakes 2-5 1-2 7, Knowles 0-0 0-0 0, Ellis 3-9 0-1 7, Yarde 5-10 3-4 15, Brumbaugh 2-3 0-0 4, Larson 7-14 2-4 16. Totals 25-57 8-16 63.
WHATCOM (7-1, 14-6)
Tapia 3-8 3-5 10, Gruber 1-2 0-2 2, Licker 5-12 2-2 13, Edwards 8-17 1-4 17, Redelinghuis 2-4 0-0 4, Korthius 1-1 0-0 3, Park 5-12 2-2 17. Totals 25-56 8-15 66.
Halftime: Whatcom 31-25. 3-Point Goals: Peninsula 5-13 (Henderson 0-2, Bfakes 2-5, Ellis 1-1, Yarde 2-5); Whatcom 8-17 (Tapia 1-2, Locker 1-4, Korthius 1-1, Park 5-10). Fouled Out: Edwards. Rebounds: Peninsula 29 (Larson 7), Whatcom 37 (Edwards 16). Assists: Peninsula 17 (Brakes, Ellis 5); Whatcom 16 (Park 6). Steals: Peninsula 5 (Jones 2); Whatcom 12 (Tapia, Park 5).
