The Peninsula Pirates (2-1) showed its inexperience Friday night in the opener of the inaugural First Federal Pirate Classic, falling 83-73 to a more seasoned Blue Angel team.
The Blue Angels are comprised of former college and professional players that travel and play against colleges and other semi-professional clubs throughout the season.
The Pirates came into the game shooting 56 percent on field goals and 48 percent on three pointers, but only connected on just 31 percent on field goals and 13 percent on 3-point field goals against the physical Blue Angel defense.
"ÂWe got down early and then we began to rush everything we do on the court," Pirate coach Lance Von Vogt said. "ÂTheir physicality and experience hurt us at times tonight. We will learn from our mistakes and come back stronger because of it. The true mark of championship teams is how they respond to adversity, so that is how we will measure ourselves moving forward.Â"
Salim Gloyd led the Pirates in the loss, scoring 22 points and 17 rebounds in the contest. Djuan Smith added 18 points and six rebounds while Daniel Sims contributed six points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.
The Blue Angels were led by Mo Anderson, 2012 MVP of the International Basketball League while playing for the Bellingham Slam, who came close to a triple-double with totaling 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Other notable players for the Blue Angels are Chris Faidley, all-time points scored leader at Whitman College, who contributed 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc; Paul Haffner, of Western Washington University, with 18 points; and Paul Richards, of the University of Washington, with five points and five rebounds.
Former Peninsula Pirate standout, Cody Smithson, logged 20 minutes for the Blue Angels contributing eight points and four rebounds.
In the first game of the Classic Friday evening, the Seattle Mountaineers toppled the Shoreline Dolphins, 130-78. The Mountaineers are a traveling professional squad that will be touring China on a basketball tour immediately after playing in the Pirate Classic.
"ÂThe Mountaineers will provide us with a huge test (Saturday)," Von Vogt said. "I can’Ât wait to see how our guys respond to the adversity that a team like them will bring to the table."