That’s the way to start off the conference slate.

Peninsula’s Pirates weren’t about to get upset in their conference opener to a struggling Shoreline team last week, rolling the Dolphins 91-67 at home on Jan. 10.

Kaelin Crane and Trent Warren led a balanced PC attack with 16 points apiece. Warren added nine rebounds.

Marky Adams hit all six shots from the field and finished with 14 points while Colby Jackson had nine points, eight assists and three steals.

Eli’sha Sheppard had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Peninsula, who out-rebounded Shoreline 42-26, led by 16 points (46-30) by halftime.

Terrell Brown Jr. led Shoreline with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pirates looked to take that momentum into a key match-up with No. 2-ranked Everett on Jan. 13 at home, but a persistent Trojan squad outlasted Peninsula in overtime, 101-88.

Peninsula had an eight-point lead at halftime but couldn’t make it stick, as Everett tied the game in regulation and out-scored PC 18-4 in the extra frame.

Everett’s Markieth Brown Jr. led all scorers with 29 points, sinking five 3-pointers, while teammate Gio Jackson added 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Crane and Jackson paced the Peninsula offense with 23 points apiece, while Cameron Burton gave the Pirates a boost off the bench with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The outcome produced an oddity in the North Region standings, with all eight squads splitting their first conference games.

Looking ahead

Peninsula is at Olympic (Bremerton) on Jan. 17 and Bellevue on Jan. 20 before hosting the Skagit Valley Cardinals on Jan. 24.