PORT ANGELES — Coach Alison Crumb told her sophomores to shoot away early against Everett because it was their last chance to do it in front of a home crowd.
And one player in particular, Jenilee Donovan, took that especially to heart in Saturday’s home finale.
Donovan hit a Peninsula College-record eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help lead the Pirates to an 86-51 win, Peninsula’s 16th win in a row. The Pirates also celebrated their North Region championship after the game.
“I told the sophomores that if ‘you have an open shot, take it. You deserve it.’” She said sophomores Lupe’lani Vaaia, Donovan and Talia Marini hit three straight shots to open up the game as Peninsula jumped to an 8-0 lead.
“Back-to-back-to-back, it was electric,” Crumb said.
Peninsula hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter and nine in the first half, opening up a 49-23 lead at the half. Donovan had six 3-pointers before the half.
Donovan is a steady, solid player for the Pirates, but not necessarily a big scorer. Even after Saturday’s outburst, she is averaging 7.9 points a game. The most 3-pointers she hit in a game prior to Saturday was three. She broke a record for 3-pointers previously held by Laura Thompson Knowles and Denise Kerns.
Peninsula Pirates head coach Ali Crumb swings a freshly cut net on Saturday in jubilation for winning the NWAC North Division championship, sending her team to the playoffs. As icing on the cake, Peninsula beat Everett 86-51 earlier in the evening. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Crumb said Donovan has always had the potential to score like she did Saturday, but has always been focused on being a good teammate and distributing the ball.
“She’s just really unselfish,” Crumb said. “She does need to take more initiative [scoring].”
With the victory, the Pirates improved to 20-2 this season (13-0 North) and are ranked No. 4 in the Northwest Athletic Conference. Crumb said the 16-game winning streak is the longest one in recent memory.
What is especially amazing about this year’s squad is that it’s a freshman-heavy team (12 freshmen) as the Pirates had to replace North Region MVPs Millie Long and Ituau Tuisaula, as well as another all-North performer in Tati Kamae. The team’s leading scorers are Ciera Tugade Agasiva at 10.8 points per game and Shania Moananu at 10.1 ppg. However, they have six players averaging 7.9 points a game or more.
“I think they’re so inter-connected,” Crumb said. “They really feed off each other’s vibes.”
Peninsula College’s Jenilee Donovan set a school record with eight 3-pointers Saturday, breaking the previous record held by Laura Thompson Knowles (pictured) and Denise Kerns. In the background is Peninsula coach Alison Crumb. (Jay Cline/Peninsula College)
The Pirates lost their second game of the year, 74-56 to Columbia Basin, which is ranked No. 1 in the NWAC. The team has changed greatly since then, Crumb said.
“They blew us out. We were not ready. I can’t believe how fast they’ve come together,” Crumb said.
Peninsula ended up hitting a total of 13 3-pointers. In addition to Donovan’s huge game, Sequim’s Jelissa Julmist scored 15 points to go with six rebounds and Vaaia had 15 points and seven rebounds. Agasiva scored 10 points and Shania Moananu had six assists.
The Pirates have one final regular season game at Shoreline on Wednesday. Crumb said the team has nothing to play for, but to keep up its winning streak and momentum going into the NWAC playoffs.
“We’re going to keep it rolling,” she said.
Peninsula 86, Everett 51
Everett 12 11 17 11 — 51
PC 24 25 22 15 — 86
Everett (51) — Thomas 23, Andresen 13, Kulin 5, Hunt 4, Curry 4, Ramadan 2.
Peninsula (86) — Donovan 26, Julmist 15, Vaaia 15, Agasiva 10, Marini 5, Mackey 4, Bates 3, Wood 2, Suaava 2, Moananu 2.
Peninsula’s Alexa Mackey, center, goes for a layup surrounded by Everett’s Ashlee Kluin, left, and Ghadir Ramadan on Saturday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Shania Moananu, right, crosses the three-point line as Everett’s Ashlynd Hunt tries to keep up on Saturday afternoon at Peninsula College.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Ciera Agasiva, left, aims for the rim pursued by Everett’s Jada Andresen on Saturday in Port Angeles.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Jelissa Julmist, right, steps into the lane defended by Everett’s Ella Curry on Saturday afternoon in Port Angeles.
