With a playoff seed already secure, all the Pirate women were looking for was some momentum.
That’s exactly what they got after sweeping Everett and Edmonds last week, giving Peninsula a four-game win streak and 11 wins in their last 12 heading into the Pirates’ first NWAACC tournament since 2005.
The Pirates are set to play Clackamas at noon March 5 in the first round of the NWAACC tournament in Kennewick.
Clackamas is the No. 3 seed from the south but ranked No. 4 overall, thanks to playing in the same division as the No. 1 (Umpqua) and No. 3 (Lane) teams in the conference.
Dena Houser led a balanced attack with 12 points as the Pirates (13-3 in NWAACC play, 18-9 overall) drubbed winless Edmonds 63-37 Saturday night.
Ten different Pirates scored in the victory. Sam Flett added eight points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals while Brooke Helpenstell chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Whitney Anderson led the visiting Tritons (0-16, 0-23) with 17 points, but she and her teammates managed just 15-of-49 shooting (31 percent) from the field.
In their second-to-last warm-up before the NWAACC tournament, Peninsula got a preview of what playoff basketball looks like. In the process, they made sure Everett’s Trojans are not playing in March.
The Pirates compensated for poor shooting with a willful domination of the boards in a 71-69 victory Wednesday night at Everett.
The Trojans’ loss eliminates them from playoff consideration.
Flett racked up 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists while teammate Krystal Tolliver added 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
Peninsula led 37-34 at halftime and it stayed close the entire game.
Despite being out-scored 17-6 in points off the bench and shooting just 36 percent from the field, Peninsula out-rebounded Everett 57-31, including a 25-23 advantage on Everett’s own basket.
Keena Hopkins led Everett with 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Everett’s loss means Bellevue secured the North Division’s fourth and final playoff berth.
The last time Peninsula qualified for the NWAACC tourney, they went 0-2 after dropping games to Spokane and Highline.
Season notes:
Flett led Peninsula in scoring (15.7 points per game), steals (89, 3.3 per game), and assists (109, 4.0 per game) … Brittany Bridges led the Pirates in blocks (14) and three-point percentage (.357) … Britney Yamane led the squad in free-throw shooting (.879) and three-pointers made (41) … Helpenstell led P.C. in field goal percentage (.610) while Tolliver topped the team in rebounds percontest (7.6).
NWAACC North Division standings (final)
Team Conf. Over.
Skagit Vly. 16-0 24-1
Peninsula 13-3 18-9
Whatcom 11-5 15-9
Bellevue 9-7 16-12
Everett 8-8 8-18
Seattle 7-9 8-18
Olympic 4-12 6-18
Shoreline 4-12 10-17
Edmonds 0-16 0-23
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
