The Pirate girls basketball team hosted Port Townsend High School for their first game of the season on Saturday, and beat the Redskins by one point, 39-38.

Vashon fell behind early in the game but managed to even the score at 18 by halftime.

The lead changed hands frequently in the second half, and the Pirates started the fourth quarter down by three points. Two second-half 3-pointers from Kylie Johnson sparked a Pirate rally as Vashon led for much of the final quarter.

Port Townsend cut the Pirate lead to one in the final minute, and with three starters on bench with five fouls, the outcome was in doubt down to the final buzzer.

The Pirates gamefully weathered pressure from the Redskins’ full court press and held on for a 39-38 season opening victory.

The Pirate offense was led by the steady play of post Charlotte Kehoe, the timely scoring and energetic defensive play of Cat Amick and Rachel Hoffman and unruffled backcourt play off the bench.

Pirate scoring was paced by Kehoe (13), Amick (7), Hoffman (6) and Johnson (6). Freshmen Taegan Lynch (3), Anya Quig (2) and Tiana Koning (2) rounded out the offensive effort.

The Pirates play their first league match on Friday, traveling to Seattle Christian.

— Gary Means is the assistant coach of the Pirate girls basketball team.