PORT ANGELES — An emphasis on ball movement was a catalyst for the Peninsula College men’s basketball team in a 90-80 NWAC North Division win over Bellevue on Wednesday night.
The Pirates (5-3, 15-5) posted 22 assists as a team on 32 made baskets. Those well-placed passes put Peninsula in good position offensively as the squad shot nearly 50 percent from the field (49.2 percent) and hit 10 of 25 3-point baskets (40 percent).
Peninsula’s Davien Harris-Williams prepares to pass as Bellevue’s Tijohn Rodde defends the lane on Wednesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
And the Pirates also knocked down 16 of 19 free throws (84 percent).
“We were sharing the basketball,” Pirates coach Donald Rollman said. “Part of our adversity lately is we haven’t been able to get over the hump against the really good teams. We’ve been close, we’ve been in every game, but our execution down the stretch hasn’t been great — it’s been too much dribbling and not enough sharing.
“The 22 assists last night was the most we had in a long time. We like to say it’s important to make the simple plays that are right in front of you and let the simple plays become great plays.”
Peninsula’s Malik Moore, left, tries to squeeze between Belluvue’s Trey Lawrence, back, and Gerald Hood, right, during Wednesday’s NWAC North Division game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
All five members of the Peninsula starting five had three or more assists with Sequim’s Nate Despain, KeAndre Hunter-Holiday and Davien Harris-Williams all sharing the team high with four apiece.
Jaylin Reed led the Pirates in scoring with 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, while grabbing seven rebounds and posting three assists.
Harris-Williams put up 19 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
Malik Moore totaled 16 points and nine rebounds, four on the offensive glass.
Peninsula’s Marquis Gurske, top, attempts a 3-pointer over the head of Bellevue’s Gabriel Moujaes on Wednesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Marquis Gurske came off the bench to score 16, grab six rebounds, dole out two assists and swiped two steals.
“He’s been playing well,” Rollman said. “He’s so versatile, he’s been shooting the ball really well.
“Marquis adds an extra dimension offensively and continues to improve on the defensive end.”
Rollman said the play of Despain and Ty Artis also stood out.
“Captain America as we call Nate Despain, defends the other team’s best player every night,” Rollman said. “He made every bucket tough on [Trevon] Richmond.
“And Ty Artis as well, he played 12 minutes, grabbed a couple of rebounds, a couple of assists but he’s done such a great job to adjust and learn on the fly. He’s really doing his job well for us.”
Peninsula is in a three-way tie for third with Edmonds (5-3, 13-9) and Shoreline (5-3, 10-10).
The Pirates visit Edmonds on Saturday.
Shoreline upset Edmonds last night, so that game got bigger,” Rollman said. “Our guys will be challenged. We didn’t perform our best defensively when Edmonds got us here, so I think our guys will have a little fire under them.
“We’ve played well on the road and a win would put us in position to control our own [tournament] destiny.”
Peninsula 90, Bellevue 80
Bellevue 39 41 — 80
Peninsula 42 48 — 90
Bellevue (80) — Hood 26, Richmond 24, Lawrence 16, Clark 4, Keowla 3, Moujaes 3, Rodde 2, Nzapangolombi 2.
Peninsula (90) — Reed 22, Harris-Williams 19, Moore 16, Gurske 16, Hunter-Holiday 14, Despain 3, Torres-Kahapea, Artis, Thomas, Gatluak.
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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.