Community Sports

Sports Beat: Win puts Peninsula girls in driver’s seat for SSC title

The impressive Peninsula girls basketball team defeated North Thurston, 59-37, in a crucial game on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Peninsula (14-3, 10-1 SSC) is tied with Gig Harbor (11-5, 10-1) for the South Sound Conference lead after the win over North Thurston (14-3, 9-2). Peninsula is ranked 10th in the WIAA’s RPI rankings.

The Seahawks came into the game focusing on high-scoring North Thurston guard Soraya Ogaldez.

“Our goal was to keep the ball out of her hands as much as possible,” Seahawks coach Hannah Lekson said. “We told Samantha Karjala and Daisy Peay that it was their job to shut her down … and they work tirelessly to do that. She still had 17 but that’s better than the 24 points she had against us the last time. Everything started on the defensive end.”

Peninsula guard Kaylia Heidelberg continues to come up clutch for the Seahawks. She outscored Ogaldez 25 to 17 using fewer shots with less turnovers in the process.

“Offensively, Heidelberg started the game off by hitting a few threes to get us ahead. She ended up with 25 huge points,” Lekson said.

Peninsula’s Grace Richardson contributed 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Peninsula guard Grace Richardson, pictured in a game earlier this year, scored 20 points against Timberline last week. Bryce Carithers

Peschek breaks her own record

The Gig Harbor girls edged Timberline 54-50 behind another record-setting game from Riley Peschek. She collected 25 rebounds, breaking the school record of 24 she set a couple weeks ago. She added 15 points and five assists.

“Riley has been killing the boards the last few games,” Gig Harbor coach Mike Guinasso said. “The girls have been playing better all around as we’re getting ready for these final few games and districts.”

Olivia Paul scored 15 points and Taylor Schwab scored 13 points to go with nine rebounds and three assists.

Peninsula played at game at River Ridge at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. They host fourth-place Timberline at home on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and Gig Harbor on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Gig Harbor hosts Capital at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Then the Tides are at North Thurston on Tuesday and at Peninsula on Thursday.

Gig Harbor’s Riley Peschek broke her own school record for rebounds in a game. Bryce Carithers

GH boys finally beaten at home

The Gig Harbor (16-2, 9-2 SSC) boys saw their remarkable 25-game home winning streak snapped  on Wednesday, Jan. 25, when league-leading Timberline rallied from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to win 54-48.

Will Landram led the Tides with 11 points in the first quarter and 19 for the game.

The win all but guarantees the Blazers (13-4, 11-0) the league title. Timberline has a two-game lead with three games remaining. A win in any of those three games clinches the title for the Blazers.

The Tides were a frigid 2 for 25 from the 3-point line against Timberline and watched the Blazers enjoy a 23-5 advantage from the free throw line. Luke Browne and Christian Parrish each had eight points as both were in foul trouble and out of rhythm.

Gig Harbor plays at Capital with a 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, then host North Thurston and Peninsula next week to finish the regular season.

Peninsula boys drop third straight

The Peninsula boys (6-9, 4-7) dropped their third straight league game, 85-44, at North Thurston (13-5, 9-2) on Jan. 25.

The Seahawks lost by just two points to the Rams in December. But in the rematch, coach Sean Muilenburg said, the Seahawks gave up 13 offensive rebounds and committed nine turnovers in the first half alone.

Meanwhile, North Thurston made 7 of 7 3-pointers in the third quarter and 9 of 10 in the second half.

The coach praised the efforts of sophomore Wyatt Abrigo, a JV call-up Wednesday who entered the game in the second quarter with the Seahawks trailing 29-7. He infused defensive energy with three steals, two assists and a long three pointer to get the Seahawks to within 11 at halftime, 34-23.

Leading Peninsula scorer Isaiah Brown was held to four points and has been hampered by a wrist injury. Gabe Sarno led the Seahawks with 16 points.

The Seahawks host winless River Ridge (0-17, 0-11) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Tides win battle of unbeaten swim teams

The Gig Harbor Tides beat Peninsula 113-72 on Jan. 19 in their final dual meet of the swimming season.

Both teams came into the meet 6-0 in dual meets. Gig Harbor’s overall depth helped the Tides win the meet and the South Sound Conference championship.

On of the best races of the day featured Peninsula’s Hunter Hobbs against Gig Harbor freshman Travis Scott in the 200 freestyle. Scot edged out Hobbs, winning in 2:06.07 versus Hobbs’ 2:07.55.

In the 50 freestyle, Peninsula’s Jonah Bergerson out-touched Emmett Scott, 25.65 to 25.74 in a fun race to watch.

Peninsula displayed fine sportsmanship as Tim Messersmith’s team provided the Tides with pizza, drinks and cupcakes after the event.

The South Sound Conference championships start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Curtis Aquatic Center.

The 6-0 Peninsula Seahawk swim and dive team.