Peninsula’s hardwood stars received some recognition for their work on the court and in the classroom last week.
Pirates Jenise McKnight, Alicia Dugan and Tai Thomas received Northwest Athletic Conference All Region women’s honors, Darrion Daniels and Jalon McCullough earned All Region recognition for the men and four Pirates — Dugan, Thomas, Cami Butler and Alex Baham — were named to the NWAC’s All-Academic Team announced March 6.
McKnight, a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., who averaged 12.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, was named to the North Region’s First Team. Dugan, a sophomore from Renton who led the Pirates in scoring with 13.9 points per game and in steals with 2.3 per game, was named to the North Second Team. Thomas, a sophomore from Honolulu, Hawaii, was named to the North Region All-Defensive Team.
Dugan, Thomas and Butler, a sophomore from Sandy, Utah, all earned NWAC All-Academic honors.
“Jenise, Alicia, and Tai have worked hard all year and have been our team captains throughout the season as well,” Peninsula head coach Alison Crumb said.
“Alicia has really come alive offensively in the second half of the season and is such a motor player. She just goes, goes, goes, and eventually she will get something for us, whether it be a three, a steal and a lay-up or a couple shots at the free throw line.
“Jenise is probably the most versatile and athletic forward/post in the league. She moves well and can beat people from beyond the arc, in the paint or in the open floor. She has a great jumper and a very quick first step. There have been very few teams that have a defender that can handle the workload of Jenise,” Crumb said.
“Tai is our most consistent player. She takes shots when she is open and is always a factor on the boards. She moves well defensively for her size and is usually tasked with guarding the best player on the other team. She has been very stable for our team and we hope she continues to be that constant force at the NWAC tournament,” Crumb said.
Crumb also praised their work in the classroom.
“Our team works hard in the classroom and Alicia, Tai and Cami are a prime example of what a student-first athlete should be,” she said. “I can’t wait to see where their academic futures take them.”
For the men, McCullough — a red-shirt freshman from Fairbanks, Alaska — was named NWAC North Region Freshman of the Year and took a spot on the region’s First Team. He was the second leading scorer for the Pirates, averaging 11.9 points per game, and also second in assists with 3.7 per game.
Daniels, a sophomore from Las Vegas, also was named to the North Region First Team. He led Peninsula in scoring with 16.8 points per game, assists with 3.9 and was second in rebounds with 5.3.
“Both Darrion and Jalon are big reasons that our team has been able win 18-plus games for the past two years,” PC head coach Mitch Freeman said. “They have bright futures at the next level and we are excited they have been a part of the PC family.”
Freeman added that Daniels made an immediate impact on the program.
“Darrion has been a big part of the program from the day that he arrived on campus two years ago,” he said. “He has worked hard for all the success he has had has a player. We are excited for Darrion and his family and look forward to following his success.”
McCullough red-shirted the 2015-16 season and emerged as a game changer in 2016-‘17.
“Jalon red-shirted last year and all the work he put in has paid off,” Freeman said. “As a player and leader of this year’s team, he has gotten better as the year went along. He has won at every level he has been and I expect him to do the same at his next stop.”
Baham, a sophomore sharpshooter from Wasilla, Alaska, was named to the North Region All-Academic Team.
“Alex has had a big sophomore year both on the court and in the classroom,” Freeman said. “Alex is committed to being a great student-athlete and he has proven that for the past two years.”
