Mitch Freeman, Peninsula College head men’s basketball coach, was a busy man in mid-December.

He was at his wife Nicole’s side for the birth of their second child, Gavin — then raced to Olympia to help the Pirate men win three straight to take the NWAC West Division Crossover Tournament at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.

It was P.C.’s first Crossover Tournament win since 2011.

Peninsula defeated Edmonds 66-56 in Sunday’s championship, following wins over Walla Walla and Grays Harbor.

The Pirates improved to 6-5 in non-conference play with one game remaining, a home game against Pierce on Dec. 30 — results were not available at press time. The Pirates prepare for their conference opener, slated for Jan. 10 at home against Edmonds.

Freshman Deonte Dixon put up big numbers in all three games to win a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Peninsula opened the West Division Crossover Tournament with a 91-80 win against Walla Walla, with Ryley Callaghan pouring in 30 points, Dixon scoring 22 and Malik Mayeux getting a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to pace the P.C. offense.

In the tourney semifinal, Peninsula jumped out to a 15-point lead and had to hold on for a 74-72 win against Grays Harbor. Dixon led the charge with a collegiate career high of 34 points, but it was the Pirates’ domination of the glass — they out-rebounded Grays Harbor 53-31 — that clinched the win. Jal Deng added 13 points, Callaghan scored 11 and Jeremiah Hobbs contributed eight points and 14 rebounds.

In the championship, Callaghan and Dixon combined for 41 points to lead the Pirates to a 66-56 victory against the Edmonds Tritons. Mayeux added 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

Peninsula held Edmonds to just 30 percent from the field, including no made 3-pointers on 12 tries.

Pirate women fall

After falling to the No. 2-ranked Lane Titans in the championship game of the Pierce Raiders Invitational earlier this month, Peninsula’s Pirates were looking for a little payback at the Western Region Crossover Tournament four days later. Unfortunately, the Titans were less than accommodating.

Lane tipped the Pirates 59-46 on Dec. 18 en route to a second-place finish at the Crossover tourney in Auburn, while the Pirates got bounced from the tourney by Big Bend in overtime, 80-77, on Dec. 19.

Against Lane, Madison Pilster had 10 points and eight rebounds, Gabi Fenumiai added six points and nine rebounds, and Zhara Laster chipped in with eight points and four steals. Lane’s defense proved too tough, holding P.C. to just 18-of-78 shooting (23 percent) from the field.

In the consolation semifinal against Big Bend, Pilster and Imani Smith led six Pirates in double figures with 15 points each to lead a furious Peninsula second half comeback. P.C. rebounded from a 20-point deficit (44-24) to knot the game at 68-68, with the Lady Vikings edging P.C. in the overtime period, 12-9.

Pilster finished with a team-high seven rebounds. Fenumiai had 13 points, Cherish Moss had 12 and Ciera Moss and Miranda Schmillen had 10 points.

P.C.’s women are off until Jan. 10 when they start conference play at Edmonds.