KENNEWICK — Long-range shooting and a deep bench launched Peninsula College to the first women’s basketball championship in school history with an 85-75 win over Lane at the Toyota Center.
Peninsula drilled 11 3-pointers and had a 31-point contribution from its reserves in the North West Athletic Conference championship game Tuesday.
“It’s surreal. I don’t think it’s fully set in yet,” Pirates coach Alison Crumb said.
“I’m just proud of this team. It’s amazing to see the hard work and the strength of this team, as a unit, come to fruition.
“The fact that we got here makes me proud, if not more proud than winning it. It wouldn’t change how proud I am of these girls if we lost this game. It’s just icing on the cake.”
Peninsula faced a mounting deficit early on, falling behind 13-5 after Lane broke off a 13-3 run in the opening six minutes of action, doing damage in the paint and putting the Pirates’ interior defense to the test.
But the Pirates wouldn’t fold, and they busted off a 15-2 run over the course of six minutes to reclaim a 20-15 lead with 8:59 left in the first half.
Lane cut the lead to three points with Jacia Jointer’s 3-pointer at the 1:29 mark before the break, but Peninsula’s Madison Pilster drained a 3 of her own on the next possession.
The Titans added a pair of free throws to go into halftime holding a 36-32 lead.
Peninsula kept it a track meet the first half, resting starter Gabi Fenumiai all but two minutes and using its deep bench as a reserve fuel in hopes of wearing Lane out.
The Pirates doubled Lane in points off the bench at the half, getting 14 points from reserves to only seven for Lane.
“We never felt like we were the underdog in any game,” Crumb said.
Lane tied it up at 37-37 in the first minute of the second half on a Jointer 3 and a Jordan Kimbrough layup.
Zhara Laster hit a pull-up jumper and Fenumiai snatched a steal near the free-throw line and took the rock coast to coast, out-racing defenders for a lay-in to give Peninsula a 41-37 lead with 17:39 remaining.
Lane, though, ripped off a 9-0 run to retake the lead at 53-46.
But that’s when Peninsula caught fire, taking off on a 20-5 run to reclaim a 66-58 lead with 5:25 left in the game.
The Titans came within eight points with 56 seconds left on the clock, but that was the closest they would get as the final minute turned into a free-throw contest.
With Lane down by 10 and six seconds left, Peninsula took the inbounds pass and held the ball as the final seconds ticked away before the celebration could begin.
Pilster was awarded tournament MVP after putting up 18 points, five boards and connecting on four treys in the championship game, adding to her torrid start in the tournament.
“It feels awesome. The hard work really pays off,” Pilster, who averaged 15.8 points in the tournament, said.
“I would never have gotten MVP without my teammates. I’m so proud of my team and my coaches. We never lost our cool, never lost faith in each other.
“The bench was wonderful, they kept cheering us on. Everyone was really positive.
“We just kept fighting.”
Fenumiai and Laster also were honored with all-tournament selections.
Laster on the first team after averaging 12.2 rebounds per game, second highest at the tournament, and Fenumiai was on the second team, having averaged 15 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Fenumiai had nine points and eight rebounds Tuesday, while Laster grabbed nine boards and scored four points.
Miranda Schmillen was the championship game’s top scorer, dropping a career-high 21 points, while yanking down nine rebounds, dishing out six assists and nailing all three of her 3-point attempts.
“It feels amazing. I never won a championship in high school. To come here and won region and NWAC, I couldn’t help but cry on the court,” Schmillen said.
Imani Smith had 14 points, seven boards and three assists. Cierra Moss finished with 11 points, five boards and three assists.
“We took care of teams in the last seven minutes of every game in this tournament, and that’s a championship team,” Crumb said.
“Winners do that. They hang in there then find times when they can capitalize and they finish.
“They deserve this. They’ll be connected for life because of this. The trophy is awesome, but that powerful connection is even better.
“I’m just happy they have that.”
Peninsula 85, Lane 75
Lane 32 43— 75
Peninsula 36 49— 85
Individual scoring
Lane (75)
Wright 4, Munkres 3, Kesling 11, Jointer 20, Kiplinger 20, DuBois 8, Kimbrough 18, Cogburn.
Peninsula (85)
Laster 4, Ci. Moss 11, Pilster 18, Fenumiai 9, Nemelka 3, Ch. Moss 5, Schmillen 21, Smith 14, Staveland, Criddle.
