Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Peninsula's men are finding the sting of losing in different ways this preseason. In Moses Lake last weekend, it was a case of heartbreak and heartburn.

The Pirates dropped a one-point game to Walla Walla Friday, then suffered a 30-point blowout to Big Bend the next day.

The Pirates led 28-18 in the first half before Walla Walla went on a 16-8 run just before halftime. The Warriors managed to eke out the win in the end.

Jesse Bean led all scorers with 15 points while teammates Harmeet Mahal had 13 points and Chidi Antoinne added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Peninsula out-rebounded Walla Walla and had more points off turnovers but the Warriors hit 10 three-pointers to Peninsula's five.

Tyler Bollman and Ray Stout led the Warriors with 13 points each.

A day later, the Pirates ran into a red-hot Big Bend squad, falling 83-53. Viking Jeff Ranstrom hit for 27 points while Kolby Secrist had nine points and 15 rebounds.

Bean once again led Peninsula with 15 points, the only Pirate in double figures. Jake Green had nine points and Cody Killian added eight points and six rebounds.

Big Bend had 27 points off Peninsula turnovers.

Peninsula aims for some success at the Yakima Crossover Tournament Dec. 19-21; they open against a familiar foe: Walla Walla.



Women clipped by Clippers



The Pirates' bus didn't run out of gas on the way to South Puget Sound, but the team may have on the court.

Peninsula's women saw a 10-point first-half lead evaporate quickly as the host Clippers shot a robust 54.5 percent in the second half to take a 68-62 nonconference win Saturday.

Sam Flett led the Pirates (4-3) with 22 points and Brittney Yamane added 18 points in the loss.

Peninsula took a 34-26 lead into halftime and had a 48-36 rebounding edge for the contest but the Clippers, behind reserve Brittanee Wright's 18 points, outscored the Pirates by 14 in the second frame.

Peninsula's 25 turnovers didn't help, leading to 28 Clipper points.

In addition to her 22 points, Flett had five assists and three steals. Krystal Tolliver led the squad with 11 rebounds. Peninsula shot well from the outside, sinking nine of 22 three-point tries - four each by Flett and Yamane.

The Pirates were slated to take on Centralia on the road Dec. 16 - results were unavailable at press time. They battle for another strong tournament placing when they travel to the Chemeketa Crossover Tournament in Oregon Dec. 19-21. Peninsula opens against Spokane (6-3).