Last week the Pirate boys basketball team trounced the Orting Cardinals, winning on the home court, 70-26.
In the Tuesday, Jan. 31 game, the Pirates got off to a fast start, scoring 23 points in the first quarter. Ben Whitaker scored on a steal and got 9 of his 15 points on the night, and Jesse Hazzard got all of his 6 points in the first.
In the second quarter, Jessie Norton hit Dan Lofland on a back-door play for 2 of his 21 points on the night, and Norton made two layups for 4 of his 8 points. The half ended with the Pirates ahead, 43-12.
In the second half, Owen Brenno got 2 points from an offensive rebound and led the team with 8 rebounds. Ian Stewart scored 2 of his 4 points on the night, and Torin Perret, Peter Amick, CJ Williams and Garrett Starr all gave strong minutes, with Perret scoring 4 points, Williams 6 and Starr 1.
The team had limited turnovers and scored well from the floor to ultimately rout the Cardinals, 70-26
On the following Friday, the Pirates traveled to Charles Wright Academy follwing their big win, but came home having lost to the Tarriers, 40-30.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter. The Pirate scoring was highlighted with an assist from Lofland to Dylan Basurto for 2 points. Lofland scored 2 points and Jessie Norton hit a 3-point shot.
In the second quarter, the Pirates shooting went cold with a Ben Whitaker hitting a 3-point shot and the rest of the Pirate scoring came from foul shots. The half ended with the Pirates ahead, 15-12.
The Pirates continued to hold the lead in the third quarter, with Whitaker scoring 7 of his team-leading 13 points on the night, and Norton hitting a 3-point shot.
In the fourth quarter the Pirate shooting again went cold, and the Charles Wright defense pressed and rattled the Pirate team.
With 6:02 left in the game, Charles Wright went ahead by 3 points and never gave up the lead, with the Pirates only scoring 3 points from foul shots in the quarter.
The game ended in a disappointing 40-30 loss for the team.
The Pirates played their final league game and celebrated Senior Night on Tuesday after press deadline.
— Brian Brenno is the father of a Pirate basketball player.
