BELLINGHAM — The Peninsula College basketball team swept Whatcom for the first time since 2009 to earn a pair of significant North West Athletic North Division wins.
The Peninsula women improved to 2-0 in conference play (8-4 overall) with a 77-68 win over the Orcas, while the men evened their record at 1-1 (8-6 overall_ with a 62-56 victory.
Wednesday’s games were played at Meridian High School while Whatcom’s new gymnasium is being constructed.
Miranda Schmillen had the hot hand for the Pirate women, hitting on 7 of 11 attempts from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range, and 3 of 4 from the foul line to lead the Pirates with 19 points.
Madison Pilster had 14 points and five rebounds, Neah Bay’s Cierra Moss added 10 points and seven boards and Zhara Laster contributed nine points and seven rebounds.
Peninsula gave up 31 points to Whatcom’s Kortney Grattic, who leads the NWAC in scoring, but the Pirates held her teammates in check to get the win.
Port Angeles High School graduate Maddy Hinrichs started for the Orcas and scored five points, dished out four assists, grabbed three rebounds and had two steals in the loss.
Port Townsend graduate Gabbi Hossack was held scoreless in 2 minutes of action.
The win was the Pirate women’s first against Whatcom since a 68-59 decision on Jan. 11, 2012.
It also marked the first women’s and men’s sweep over the Orcas going back to Jan. 21, 2009, when the Pirate women won 59-43 and the men won 86-69.
Next up for both teams is a road visit to Everett on Saturday before returning home for Pirate Pete Week games against Olympic on Wednesday and Bellevue on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The Everett women, like Peninsula, are undefeated in division play (2-0, 8-8).
The Trojan men are 1-1 in division and 8-8 overall.
Men’s Game
Peninsula 62, Whatcom 56
The Pirates, who split with the defending North Division champions last year, went out to a 33-26 halftime lead and held on to win by six points.
Ryley Callaghan led all scorers with 21 points, Deonte Dixon hit for 18 and Jal Deng and Jonah Cook contributed eight each to lead the Pirates.
Jeremiah Hobbs was Peninsula’s leading rebounder with eight. He also blocked a team-high two shots.
PA players in NWAC
Four former Port Angeles High School players were in action Wednesday for NWAC women’s teams.
Krista Johnson scored 20 points to lead South Puget Sound to a 70-42 win over Grays Harbor.
Johnson made 8 of 13 shots from the field and 4 of 8 from 3-point range.
Lenora Hofer had a rebound and an assist in 10 minutes of action for the Clippers.
In Olympic’s 63-53 loss to Bellevue, Macy Walker had 11 points, six assists and three steals, while Mariah Frazier had five points and five rebounds.