Area Sports

A win is a win, that old sports cliché goes.

Peninsula's men will take it, especially if it means starting conference play unbeaten.

Pirate forward Clay Greenland had 27 points and teammate Jesse Bean added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds as Peninsula (10-4) topped host Shoreline 79-74 on Jan. 2.

"I was very disappointed with some of our offensive and defensive execution," P.C. head coach Peter Stewart said. "(But) anytime you can get a win on the road, you get on the bus and count your blessings."

Shoreline's gymnasium was the cause of Peninsula's chagrin two years ago when the Dolphins upset the undefeated Pirates. Last year, Peninsula swept the two-game series, but both were close.

Last week, Peninsula and Shoreline were tied 36-36 at halftime before Peninsula built a 10-point second-half lead and eventually held off the taller Dolphin crew.

Peninsula out-rebounded Shoreline 36-32, led by Bean, six rebounds from Jason Millon and five rebounds each from Ernie Grimes, Cody Killian and Cody Smithson.

Christian Harris added 13 points in less than 20 minutes in replacing starter Dominick Lozano.

Greenland, the Pirates' leading scorer, hit 10-of-18 from the field and is averaging 26.8 points per game in the past four games. Last Wednesday marked the seventh time Greenland has topped 20 points this season.

Parys Fox led the Dolphins with 20 points.

The win sets up a good early-season contest between Peninsula and traditional North division rival Bellevue Jan. 9 in Port Angeles.

The Bulldogs (2-0, 10-4) are coming off a 69-64 win against Edmonds Jan. 5.