WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Neah Bay’s Moss sisters show they belong with Peninsula Pirates

PORT ANGELES — This year’s Peninsula College women’s basketball team is the best in coach Alison Crumb’s five seasons at the helm.

And, while the starting five is stacked with talent, depth is what sets this team apart, and why it was able to win its first region championship since 2005.

“The sixth, seventh, eighth kids, that’s the difference with us from teams we’ve had in the past, and the sisters are a huge part of that,” Crumb said this week as the Pirates prepared to open the NWAC tournament Saturday against Portland.

“Those two, along with Whitney [Nemelka] and some others come off the bench.”

The sisters.

That would be Cherish and Cierra Moss from Neah Bay.

Both are freshmen, but Crumb wants everyone to know that they aren’t twins.

Cierra graduated in 2014 and was the Peninsula Daily News’ All-Peninsula Girls Basketball co-MVP as a senior last year.

Cherish, herself a fixture on past All-Peninsula teams, graduated in 2012. But a back injury prevented her from continuing her career.

When Cierra decided to play at Peninsula, Cherish wanted to play, too. So she got her back examined and was able to play again.

“It was really tough coming back and getting back in shape and stuff, but I fell in love with it right away,” Cherish said.

Both Mosses faced a big transition, going from Class 1B, the smallest classification in Washington, to junior college.

Neah Bay and the Mosses ruled the North Olympic League, but how would their skills translate to the Northwest Athletic Conference?

“I got a real reality check about basketball,” Cierra said.

“Coming from Neah Bay, you think, like, oh, you’re really, really good. But then you come to college, and, like, oh, reality check.

“You’ve just got to work harder. It’s more fun, but you meet other good people and play against other good teams.”

Crumb admits to being nervous at first, but the sisters’ transition to college basketball has been smooth.

“I think they’ve done great, both of them,” Crumb said.

“Their character and who they are have completely made that transition seem less.

“Every role that I’ve asked them to do, they’ve done. They’re a huge part of our team and why we are the way that we are.

“We’re a very selfless team, and those two are two of the most unselfish players on the team.”

Cierra has been either in the starting lineup or one of the first players off the bench this season and is fourth on the team in minutes played.

She is one of four Pirates to average double figures in scoring at 10.33 points per game. She leads the team in 3-pointers made (34) and free throws made (68), and is third in rebounds (5.08 rpg).

Cherish, who has been hobbled lately by an ankle injury, averages 3.4 points per game and 2.4 rebounds.

She is third on the team behind Cierra and Madison Pilster in 3-pointers made with 14.

Both sisters are shooting above 80 percent at the free-throw line.

“It’s nice, especially for Cierra, she’s getting to the hoop more. There have been times that half her points have come on free throws,” Crumb said.

“At the tournament, that’s going to be huge.”

The free-throw shooting prowess is a family thing.

“Our dad really lectured us about, you know, it’s a free shot,” Cherish said.

“So all of us really work hard on them and have good concentration.

“It’s a free shot.”

Basketball is a large part of the large Moss family, starting with dad Rob and mom Cinnamon, and including brothers Robert, the 2010 All-Peninsula Boys Basketball MVP, and Ryan, who averages double figures as a junior for the Neah Bay boys this season.

There’s more on the way: Cierra proudly points out that sixth-grader Ruth is doing well for the Neah Bay middle school team.

Then there is the extended Neah Bay family, which is a presence at just about every Peninsula home game, filling up the second section from the north end of the court with a rowdy group of Pirates fans.

“I love it. I love how much Neah Bay people come to support us,” Cherish said.

“It really shows how much our community supports us and will drive this amount to come support all of us and our team.

“Because all of our team loves the support. They always ask if our family and our community is going to come watch.

“So they’re noticed when they’re here by our teammates, and it’s greatly appreciated.”

The sisters also have embraced and been embraced by their Peninsula teammates.

“This is the closest I’ve been, like with all the teammates, I’ve really bonded,” Cherish said.

“We’ve really bonded with a huge group of girls.”

Cierra jumps in, which verifies Crumb’s claim that the sisters often finish each others sentences and thoughts.

“I’ve never been this close with a team before,” Cierra said.

Crumb said the other Pirates love the sisters back, although they kind of wondered if they would after Cierra and Cherish were so quiet on their recruiting trips.

But that changed once practices began.

“I think that once they met the team and understood the way I coach, I think they started to open up,” Crumb said.

“Now you can’t get them to shut up.”

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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.