Peninsula’s new coach Mitch Freeman and the Pirates are 3-0 after a pair of wins at the First Federal Pirate Classic Dec. 7-8.

The Pirates knocked off Northwest Indian College 81-78 on Dec. 7 in a close contest through to the end.

Sophomore Tyler McKinney had a career night high to lead the Pirates, hitting 10 of 14 from two-point range, hitting three of six on 3-pointers and sinking all four free throws for a team-high 27 points.

It was a pair of other Pirates that sealed the win, though, as Erron Shamlin sank a key 3-pointer and Juwan Flowers split the NWIC defense for a lay-up in the final 10 seconds.

Post Josh Nelson led the Eagles with 32 points.

On Dec. 8, the Pirates pulled away from Grays Harbor in the final 10 minutes for a 76-64 win over the Chokers.

Daren Hechanova led Peninsula with 19 points, including two crowd-pleasing dunks, Shamlin added 11 points and four assists and Jal Deng celebrated his birthday with an 11-point effort.

The difference in the game came from the free throw line where the Pirates benefited from 41 free throw attempts, hitting 28. Grays Harbor went to the line just 17 times, making 12.

The Pirate men are back in action at home on Saturday, Dec. 14, against the Washington Rampage; game time is 5 p.m.

The Pirate women, idle for two weeks, will be busy this coming weekend. Peninsula is at Highline on Dec. 12, then drive a few miles south to play in the Raider Invitational at Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom on Dec. 13-14.