BELLEVUE — The Peninsula College women caused a small tremor that was felt around the Northwest Athletic Conference by rocking the Bulldogs 70-54 to move into a tie for first place in the North Region.
It was almost a full-blown earthquake, as the Pirate men battled back against the NWAC’s top-ranked Bellevue men, tying the score at 52-52 with two minutes to play, but the Bulldogs hung on to win 59-54 Sunday.
The stage is now set for the final week of the regular season: Two home games, and a lot is riding on them.
The Pirate women (11-1, 17-5) need wins over third-place Skagit Valley (8-4, 18-10) on Wednesday and Shoreline (0-12, 0-20) on Saturday to win at least a share of the North Division championship — and the No. 1 berth to the 2015 NWAC tournament, coming up March 7-10 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
If Peninsula and Bellevue finish tied for first place, the two teams would share the region title, but Peninsula would earn the North’s top seed at the NWAC tournament by virtue of a better tiebreaker number, or draw.
The difference between the North’s first and second seed is
12 hours.
The No. 2 seed opens NWAC tourney against the South Region’s No. 3 team Saturday, March 7, at 8 a.m. The North’s No. 1 plays that evening at 8 p.m. against the South’s No. 4.
The Bulldogs (11-1, 20-7) finish the season this week with games at Whatcom (6-6, 11-14) and at home against Everett (6-6, 12-14). The Orcas and Trojans are tied for the region’s fourth and final postseason berth.
Whatcom upset Skagit Valley 69-62 over the weekend.
The Pirate men (6-6, 13-11) are in a three-way tie with Skagit Valley and Everett for third place, and one game ahead of Shoreline, in the race for a top-four finish and a trip to the postseason.
Bellevue (11-1, 24-3) remains in first place and Edmonds (10-2, 22-5) is a game back in second.
The Pirates host the Cardinals (6-6, 14-10) on Wednesday and the Dolphins (5-7, 10-15) on Saturday, and need a pair of wins to ensure their trip to Kennewick.
Women’s Game
Peninsula 70, Bellevue 54
The Pirates, who fell to the Bulldogs 67-62 in Port Angeles last month, were focused and prepared for the task that was in front of them Sunday.
They systematically dismantled the Bellevue women, in front of their home fans, bolting out to an 8-0 lead and then a 35-23 halftime lead, led by the play of Miranda Schmillen at both ends of the court.
She was penetrating and scoring against the taller Bulldogs, and her help in the key forced numerous turnovers.
Madison Pilster took the game over in the second half, scoring at will as the Pirates went up by as many as 28 points — holding on to win by 16.
Pilster went off for 25 points and five rebounds, Schmillen finished with 12 points and seven boards, Zhara Laster had a big day with nine points, 14 rebounds, four steals and five assists, Ciera Moss added nine points, and Gabi Fenumiai contributed six points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
The NWAC’s seventh-ranked Pirates out-rebounded the fourth-ranked Bulldogs 61-40.
Peninsula 70, Bellevue 54
Peninsula 35 35— 70
Bellevue 23 31— 54
Individual scoring
Peninsula (70)
Laster 9, Ci. Moss 9, Pilster 25, Fenumiai 6, Hutchins 4, Schmillen 12, Smith 5, Staveland, Nemelka.
Bellevue (54)
J. Hopkins 2, H. Hopkins 11, Jones 12, McClean 2, Kassuba 11, Jackson 8, Cosmos 8, Alexander.
Men’s Game
Bellevue 59, Peninsula 54
On paper, it was a David vs. Goliath matchup, with the Pirates, scrapping to reach the playoffs, taking on the NWAC’s top-ranked Bulldogs on their home court — and the game started that way.
The hosts went out to a commanding lead early, but the Peninsula men kept battling, closing the gap to 38-25 at halftime, and eventually tying the score at 52-52 with two minutes remaining before Bellevue finally got some stops and hit its free throws to thwart the upset.
Ryley Callaghan led Peninsula with 17 points and six rebounds, Jal Deng had 10 points and nine boards, Jeremiah Hobbs scored eight, Chris Reis had seven and Deonte Dixon finished with six.
The Pirates out-rebounded Bellevue 42-30, but foul trouble and turnovers spelled their demise after they put up a fight against the NWAC’s No. 1 team.
Bellevue 59, Peninsula 54
Peninsula 25 29— 54
Bellevue 38 21— 59
Individual scoring
Peninsula (54)
Callaghan 17, Mayeux 4, Dixon 6, Hobbs 8, Reis 7, Deng 10, Cook 2, Domach.
Bellevue (59)
Ward 18, Jordan 16, Smith 3, Zehr 2, Nevin 3, Medalia 2, Holub 7, McLaughlin 8, McIrvin.
