PORT ANGELES — The First Federal Pirate Classic returns to the Peninsula College gym this weekend for three days of hoops action from 10 different teams.
The Pirate women enter the event with a 3-0 record and the men with a 3-1 mark, with both teams playing NWAC squads in front of their home fans for the first time this season.
The tournament hit a bump in the road when Grays Harbor College suspended its women’s basketball program for the year, announced by the NWAC on Tuesday.
Peninsula head coach Ali Crumb went out and landed Bellevue College to fill two of the three games that were impacted by the Chokers’ departure. Her Peninsula women will take on Chemeketa (1-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday and Highline (0-2) at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Pirate men will battle Lane (1-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday and then Tacoma (2-1) at 6 p.m. Sunday.
“Coach Rollman and Coach Crumb put together a great weekend of basketball,” said Rick Ross, associate dean for athletics and student life. “We’re looking forward to welcoming fans back and enjoying some high-level community college basketball. Special thanks to First Federal for helping us make this happen, and to Red Lion Hotels for working with us on rooms for the visiting teams.”
The Pirate women will play only two games following Grays Harbor’s exit, but all other colleges were able to get the games that were scheduled.
“That was a bummer to lose that game, but it’s really a sad situation for those players at [Grays Harbor],” Ross said. “Hopefully they’ll land on other teams in the NWAC this season.”
The tournament’s signature sponsor is First Federal.
Admission is $6 per day for adults and $4 for seniors older than 55, veterans, alumni and students 13-17.
Peninsula students, staff and children 12 and younger are free. Fans will be asked to wear masks, per the state’s COVID-19 rules for indoor public spaces.
Pirate Classic schedule Friday
6 p.m.: Chemeketa vs. Olympic (women)
Saturday
11 a.m.: Olympic vs. Highline (women)
1 p.m.: Peninsula vs. Chemeketa (women)
3 p.m.: Wenatchee vs. Bellevue (women)
5 p.m.: Peninsula vs. Lane (men)
7 p.m.: Tacoma vs. Edmonds (men)
Sunday
10 a.m.: Wenatchee vs. Olympic (women)
12 p.m.: Lane vs. Edmonds (men)
2 p.m.: Chemeketa vs. Bellevue (women)
4 p.m.: Peninsula vs. Highline (women)
6 p.m.: Peninsula vs. Tacoma (men)
