Testing begins early this season for these PC student-athletes.

The top-ranked Peninsula College Pirates ran headlong into some stiff competition at the Pierce Holiday Invitational last week, dropping two of three games against a pair of highly regarded conference foes.

The Pirates (7-3) opened the tourney with a 72-55 win against struggling Tacoma (1-6) on Dec. 11. Cherish Moss scored 18 points and snagged six rebounds to pace the Pirate offense. Imani Smith added 10 points, Zhara Laster had four steals and Daijhan Cooks led the team with seven rebounds in limited time.

In the tourney semifinal, PC fell to No. 2-ranked Lane 82-72 on Dec. 12. The Titans led 48-44 at halftime and held on for a tough win, led by Shelby Snook (20 points, eight rebounds) and Jordan Kimbrough (17 points, 13 rebounds). Moss and Laster kept it close for Peninsula.

Moss hit for 22 points while Laster added 18 points, 15 rebounds, seven steals and three assists.

But PC couldn’t overcome a tough night shooting from the field, hitting just 27 of 80 shots (34 percent). Lane (7-0) went on to top Columbia Basin 74-71 for the tourney title.

In the third-fourth place game on Dec. 13, North region rival Bellevue upended PC 65-57 behind the 28 points of Mikayla Jones. Using just six players, the Bulldogs (4-2) ran the Pirates ragged by forcing 35 turnovers, 18 of them off of steals. Laster and Moss had 13 points each, and Laster — who was named to the All-Tournament Team — added 12 rebounds in defeat.

The Pirates were without Anaya Rodisha, who injured her ankle, and Jenise McKnight, who fouled out.

Peninsula gets back on the court Dec. 17 when they host South Puget Sound in the first game of the Peninsula Crossover; the tourney also features No. 8-ranked Spokane, No. 2-ranked Lane, Centralia, Shoreline, Big Bend and Portland.

The Pirates then get a break until Jan. 9, when their road trip to Edmonds kicks off conference play.