College basketball: Bellevue sweeps PC on hardcourt

The last time Peninsula College lost a pair of home basketball games was the 2014-15 season on Jan. 24 against Bellevue.

Much to the Pirates’ charginr, the Bulldogs did it again on Jan. 21, sweeping a pair of NWAC North thrillers.

Bellevue beat the Pirate women 65-61 and the visitors then came from behind to eke out an 81-79 win over the PC men.

The North Division is now a log jam for both the women and men. The Pirates (3-1, 11-6) are one of four teams sharing first place in the North women’s race, along with Skagit Valley (3-1, 13-5), Bellevue (3-1, 11-6) and Shoreline (3-1, 6-8). Peninsula also remains in first place in the men’s standings at 3-1 and 12-4, tied with Whatcom (3-1, 11-4), and Skagit Valley (3-1, 10-5).

The Pirates hope to separate from one of those colleges on Wednesday when the women and men visit Skagit Valley.

Women: Bellevue 65, Peninsula 61

PC bolted out to a 13-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Bellevue responded in a big way, outscoring the hosts 21-11 in the second and putting the Pirates into a hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Jenise McKnight led the PC women with 16 points and seven rebounds, Anaya Rodisha added 14 and Yamilei Rodriguez also scored 14.

Five Bellevue players finished in double figures, led by Molly Dixon and Brenda Akoto with 14 each.

Men: Bellevue 81, Peninsula 79

This game was tight all the way and came down to a thrilling finish that saw Darrion Daniels put up a shot in traffic that went in-and-out at the buzzer, leaving Bellevue on top.

Peninsula outrebounded a small Bellevue team 39-27, but free throws hurt the Pirates, who hit on only 12 of 20.

Daniels led Peninsula with 19 points, Alex Baham hit on five of six from beyond the arc to finish with 15, and Kevin Baker scored 12.

Bellevue’s Jordan Muir-Keung found his shooting touch in the second half to lead all scorers with 28.