The Pirate men outlasted the Whatcom Orcas 48-47 Wednesday night to move into a fourth-place tie with Everett — their opponent on Saturday — while the Northwest Athletic Conference’s No. 8-ranked Peninsula women overwhelmed the Orcas 79-59 to remain in the hunt for the North Division championship, one game behind Bellevue.

With five games remaining, the Pirate men (4-5, 11-10) need a win at home against Everett (4-5, 13-11) on Saturday to put themselves in the driver’s seat for a top-four finish and an NWAC Basketball Tournament berth.

The Pirate women, meanwhile, improved to 8-1 in conference play and 14-5 overall. They trail Bellevue (9-0, 18-6) and sport a one-game lead over Skagit Valley (7-2, 17-8). Saturday’s opponent Everett (5-4, 11-12) is hanging on to fourth place.

Tip-off for Saturday’s home game against the Trojans is 5 p.m. for the women and 6:45 p.m. for the men.

Women: Pirates 79, Whatcom 59

The story of the night was sophomore Madison Pilster, who did a defensive number on Kortney Grattic, holding the NWAC’s leading scorer to 14 points. Grattic, the Lynden standout, was averaging 24 points a game. Pilster caught fire at the other end of the floor, hitting six of 10 from 3-point range to lead all scorers with a career-high 30 points.

The Pirates took control early, riding the offensive fireworks of Imani Smith, who finished with 10 points and five assists, and never looked back, substituting liberally throughout the second half.

Gabi Fenumiai recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, Ciera Moss scored nine and Zhara Laster, back on the floor following a knee injury, added six points, six rebounds and five assists.

Men: Pirates 48, Whatcom 47

The Orcas controlled the tempo and the game throughout the first half, leading 30-25 at the break, but the Pirates wouldn’t go away and frustrated the Whatcom men offensively in the second half, holding them to just 17 points.

Peninsula wasn’t enjoying a shooting clinic either, hitting on only 14-for-49 for 29 percent from the floor on the night, but they found some energy and the will to win.

The Pirates took a 48-47 lead in the final minute off a Ryley Callaghan layup and then got a stop at the other end – and the ball back. After working the clock down to 10 seconds remaining, the Pirates came up with another big stop, forcing a miss on a shot attempt in the paint

Jeremiah Hobbs led the Pirates with 11 points and seven rebounds. Deonte Dixon also hit for 11 points, Callaghan finished with 10 and Jal Deng had nine.