The girls teams must win Tuesday to advance to regionals Saturday. The Tides boys will move on to state no matter what happens against the Fighting Irish on Saturday.
Luke Browne broke the Tides’ season record for 3-pointers in the 68-42 win, with regional and state games still to come.
Gig Harbor rallied to tie in the late going, but couldn’t get over the hump. The Tides, who had already clinched a regional berth, will play for third place on Saturday.
Gig Harbor’s Christian Parrish was named South Sound Conference defensive player of the year and teammates Luke Browne and Will Landram made the first team.
Peninsula wasn’t at its best in a 43-34 defeat of Auburn Riverside, but earned itself another game against North Thurston Thursday.
The Tides downed Auburn Mountainview, 61-48, in their district opener while Peninsula fell to Lincoln, 44-37.
Peninsula wound up tied with Yelm for the South Sound Conference’s final postseason berth, but lost the decisive draw.
The Gig Harbor and Peninsula girls begin the road to the state tournament on Friday followed by the Tides boys on Saturday.
North Thurston avenged its only defeat of the year, but Gig Harbor would still get the league’s top seed if both teams win out.
The Tides compete today at the league championship meet, to be followed by district and state competitions.
