PORT ANGELES — DeShaun Freeman had four monster dunks to spark the Peninsula College men’s basketball team to a crucial win over NWAACC No. 2-ranked Whatcom on Monday night.
The Pirates won 83-75 to pull ahead of Whatcom by a half-game in the Northern Division standings.
“It was a terrific team effort and a terrific win for us,” Peninsula coach Lance Von Vogt.
“We held serve on our home court.”
Whatcom scored the first basket but then the Pirates went ahead 9-2 and never looked back, leading by double figures most of the night.
The Pirates led 41-23 at halftime.
Whatcom came charging back in the second half with a 52-42 advantage but it wasn’t enough.
Peninsula now is 9-5 overall and 4-1 in league while Whatcom fell to 11-2 and 3-1.
Freeman led five players in double figures for the Pirates.
Freeman and Mitrell Clark scored 17 points each while Sam Waller sank 16, Jerry Johnson netted 12 and Thad Vinson had 11.
“DeShaun Freeman had four highlight dunks for us in the game,” Von Vogt said.
Blocked shots
Freeman also had two blocked shots.
Waller led on the boards with seven rebounds while Vinson and Johnson brought down six each.
“It was a team effort with balanced scoring and rebounding,” Von Vogt said.
“It was a really, really hard-fought game.”
The Pirates came out of the gate setting the tempo for the game and showing defensive intensity, Von Vogt said.
Vinson and Waller led the Pirates with four assists each while Waller also had three steals.
J.B. Pillard had a game-high 29 points for Whatcom.
The Pirates next host Edmonds on Wednesday night.