PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College women’s basketball team had a huge win over Bellevue last week that gave them a one-game lead in the North Region over the Bulldogs and Skagit Valley.
But as far as the North title, all Saturday’s win did was keep the Pirates (11-1, 20-5) in the race.
Peninsula needs to win its final two games to claim a second consecutive region championship. That means beating the Cardinals (10-2, 20-8) in Mount Vernon tonight and then not tripping up against Shoreline (4-8, 6-15) on Saturday.
If the Pirates lose either of those two games, it is more likely than not that they will share the title with Bellevue (10-2, 20-5) and Skagit but be relegated to the region’s third seed at the NWAC tournament.
That’s because out of the three teams, Peninsula has the lowest tiebreaker number.
The Pirates seem to be in a first-or-third scenario. Placing second would take a loss by the Bulldogs or the Cardinals.
Bellevue finishes at home against Whatcom (3-9, 3-20) tonight and Saturday at Everett (6-6, 13-13). It’s unlikely the Bulldogs will drop either game.
After hosting Peninsula tonight, Skagit finishes at home against last-place Edmonds (1-11, 2-22).
The top two seeds from each region host a first-round, loser-out playoff game Saturday, March 5.
The other two teams from each region travel for the opening round. In the case of the North’s third seed, that means playing at the East’s second seed, which will probably be either Spokane or Walla Walla.
So, there’s a lot riding on tonight’s showdown at Skagit.
And the Cardinals will be motivated, having lost by 18 to Peninsula at Port Angeles last month.
“If we split with them, then we split with Bellevue, and Bellevue split with Skagit . . . and it’s a three-way tie for first,” Peninsula coach Alison Crumb said after beating Bellevue on Saturday.
“We could end up traveling as a league champion, but as a third seed.
“And that’s not where we want to be. I mean, we’re not going to overthink that, but we need to get that game.
“This game coming up is actually a bigger deal in the scheme of things.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
