Community Sports
Sports Beat: Gig Harbor boys extend home unbeaten streak
Basketball season has begun, and local teams are enjoying early-season success.
The game of the week was on Dec. 14, when the Gig Harbor boys hosted Central Kitsap. The 4-1 Tides shot the lights out while defending their home unbeaten streak, which stretches back until late in the 2020-21 season. Gig Harbor prevailed, 84-31.
The Tides (4-1, 2-1 South Sound Conference) hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter, led by shooting guard Luke Browne, who drained his first couple threes in the opening 2 minutes. That prompted Cougar coach Terrance Mosley to leap from his bench to call timeout.
Luke Browne scored 35 points in Gig Harbor’s 84-31 win over Central Kitsap. Christi Adams
“We had worked all week at practice to get out on Browne but if he gets his shoulders square, it’s down,” Mosley said. “He is the best shooter I have ever seen in the South Sound Conference and with his quick release you have to know where he is at all times.”
Browne hit two more 3’s in the first quarter. He ended up with nine 3-pointers, just two short of his own school record, and scored 35 points with five rebounds and two steals.
The Tides turned up the defensive intensity in the second quarter as Will Landram, Christian Parrish and KeVaughn Harvey each got steals and raced to the basket. Landram, who scored 16 points on the night, rose above the crowd for a two-handed dunk after his steal. Landram added five rebounds and three steals against the Cougars.
Point guard Christian Parrish tallied 12 points with five rebounds and a team-high five assists. Harvey contributed four assists and nine points.
“We want to run our plays and dictate the pace of play by imposing our will on teams,” Gig Harbor coach Billy Landram said. “If we can continue to improve in that area, we will be successful. I think we did a better job of playing our style tonight.”
Gig Harbor’s Christian Parrish makes a shot while getting fouled against Central Kitsap. Photo by Christi Adams
Gig Harbor plays at Yelm at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Then the Tides are at Aberdeen on Wednesday, Dec. 21, before returning home to face Class 2A No. 1 Lynden at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22.
Peninsula boys split a pair
The Peninsula Seahawks boys basketball team split games this week: A 73- 56 loss at Capital on Dec. 9 and a 73-63 win over Yelm Tornados on Dec. 14.
Peninsula’s Gabe Sarno hit 4 of 6 3-pointers against Capital on his way to 18 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the year.
Peninsula guard Luke Benoit had 18 points and eight rebounds in a win over Yelm in a victory. Bryce Carithers
Senior guard Luke Benoit contributed 18 points and eight rebounds to the win over Yelm, which kept Peninsula (3-1, 2-1 South Sound Conference) in the league race. Junior guard Isaiah Brown paced Peninsula with 20 points while sophomore Will Whitley-Ross had a career high 12 points to become the sixth Seahawk to score in double figures this year.
Sarno added 11 points and Cole Bashaw 10 for the Seahawks against Yelm.
The Seahawks host North Thurston (6-2, 3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.
Both girls teams remain unbeaten in league
The Peninsula girls (6-0, 3-0 SSC) swarmed the Yelm Tornados 64-25 on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The Seahawks are at league co-leading North Thurston at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.
The Gig Harbor girls (4-1, 3-0 SSC) won at Central Kitsap, 51-36, on Dec. 14.
The Lady Tides host Timberline at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Timberline (5-1, 3-0) is also among the four teams undefeated in league play.
If both local teams win Friday, they would share the top spot in the league. Their first meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Gig Harbor.
Tune into next week’s Sports Beat for more on local wrestling and bowling teams.