Community Sports
Sports Beat | Tides sweep Fish Basket games
Boys basketball: Tides pull away in second half
Gig Harbor (10-5, 7-3 Puget Sound League) outscored Peninsula (4-9, 2-7) by 15 points in a decisive second half to stroll out of the Seahawks’ gym with a 45-29 victory in the boys Fish Basket game on Jan. 16.
The Tides are on a six-game winning streak and have defeated Peninsula 11 consecutive times since the Seahawks’ 59-36 win on Jan. 15, 2020.
A packed Peninsula gym witnessed some nervous offensive play from both squads early, but the defensive hustle was apparent. Players on both teams dived for loose balls in the intense environment of a rivalry game.
In previous Fish Baskets, Peninsula coach Sean Muilenburg has emphasized tough defense and limiting the Tides’ transition opportunities.
This year, the Seahawks’ defensive attention focused on Michael Masini, the Tides’ 6-foot-8 center and leading scorer. Masini drew foul calls on Peninsula starting center Aiden Muilenburg on the first two trips down the court, converting a pair of free throws to open the scoring.
Gig Harbor center Michael Masini wins the opening tip over Aiden Muilenburg of Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Vincent Starr
The Seahawks took a 9-8 lead early in the second quarter on back-to-back baskets by lightening-quick junior point guard Tariq Taylor. They extended the lead to 14-10 on a score by 6-foot-4 senior forward AJ Alexeev, but Masini went on a scoring binge to put Gig Harbor ahead 15-14 at halftime.
As the third quarter opened, it looked like the game would remain close. Peninsula senior Isaac Smith drained a jump shot to put his team up 19-18. But that was the last lead for the home team as the Tides shifted into a higher gear.
Troy Arnold of Gig Harbor looks to drive against Tariq Taylor of Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Vincent Starr
Masini, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds, started to assert himself. He scored on a duck-in from two feet, then connected on his only shot that wasn’t from point blank range, a turn-around 13-footer that was all net. He then collected a loose ball at half court and showed good dribbling skills for a big guy, sinking a lay-up to make the score 25-18 Tides.
Steady junior guard Max Schwab attacked the rack for a couple of athletic buckets in the second half, while senior guard Ty Buchanan added a nifty reverse lay-in and a long jumper in the fourth quarter.
Peninsula tried to answer by feeding Alexeev, who averages 17 points per game, and he responded by splashing a jumper. But he struggled to find open looks.
AJ Alexeev of Peninsula shoots over Michael Masini of Gig Harbor. Photo croutesy of Vincent Starr
A couple of reserves emerged in the fourth quarter for both teams — 6-foot-7 Jack Raslavsky of Peninsula and 6-foot-5 Wyatt Lumsden of Gig Harbor both stood out.
Raslavsky looked like he could be a difference-maker in the fourth quarter, playing solid post defense on Masini and shutting down driving lanes before burying a smooth baseline jump shot of his own.
When Raslavsky rotated out of the game, Lumsden crashed the boards and collected one offensive rebound after another. Lumsden, a senior, may have played himself into a larger role going forward. Power forward has been a question mark all year and Masini is often the Tides’ only reliable rebounder.
Lumsden grabbed seven offensive rebounds and scored eight points as the Tides pulled away to win.
“Wyatt played terrific,” Gig Harbor coach Billy Landram said. “His seven offensive rebounds made a huge difference in giving us second-chance opportunities.”
Gig Harbor’s Wyatt Lumsden contributed eight points and eight rebounds in the win over Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Vincent Starr
Taylor, with 10 points, was the only Seahawk in double figures. Alexeev added eight points.
Peninsula plays at Central Kitsap at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, before back-to-back games against North Thurston — at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 22 in Purdy and at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 26 in Lacey. The Rams are winless in league play.
Gig Harbor hosts River Ridge at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, before playing at Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22.
Gig Harbor 45, Peninsula 29
Gig Harbor: Quentin Bockhorn 3, Ty Buchanan 6, Max Schwab 7, Michael Masini 18, William Cody 0, Wyatt Lumsden 8, Jack Brown 2, Troy Arnold 1
Peninsula: Isaac Smith 5, Tariq Taylor 10, Aiden Muilenburg 0, AJ Alexeev 8, Talen McDonnell 2, Jack Raslavsky 2, Lucas Wiseman 2
Puget Sound League Narrows Division boys basketball standings as of Jan. 19, 2026.
Puget Sound League Nisqually Division boys basketball standings as of Jan. 19, 2026.
Girls basketball: Gig Harbor press stifles Peninsula
The Gig Harbor girls (10-3, 8-2) stayed on top of the Narrows Division, defeating Peninsula (5-8, 3-6) 51-28 with a suffocating defensive effort on Jan. 14.
The Tides employed a frustrating half-court trap against the Seahawks from the opening tip and stayed with it until the game was out of reach.
The Tides’ experienced guard tandem of Ashlyn Peirce and Kaliyah Miller converged on the Seahawks, repelling Peninsula’s efforts to penetrate the middle of the floor.
Peninsula committed 34 turnovers for the game and failed to get a shot onto the rim until the 4:20 mark of the first quarter, when Peninsula guard Gracie Robinson dropped in a difficult left handler.
The Tides had 24 steals and 17 deflections, with most of them coming from their half-court trap.
Meanwhile, the Tide offense was humming, with quick passes from side to side leading to open shots.
Ashlyn Peirce of Gig Harbor leads the break against Peninsula as Anika Jones (20) and Willow Bonnici race to fill the lanes. Photo courtesy of Vincent Starr
Junior guard Peirce was key to the Tides putting this game away early. She collected two offensive rebounds in the first two minutes, fed forward Willow Bonnici for a couple baskets, and splashed a 3-pointer that put Gig Harbor ahead 14-2 at the end of the first quarter.
“Peirce is an amazing ball handler and able to safely and calmly slice and dice through defenders to the basket unlike any other,” said Tide head coach Michelle Hackett. “She sees the court extremely well and makes everyone around her better.”
Peirce scored all 11 of her points in the first half, setting the tone for her teammates.
The Tides may make a lengthy post season run with a defense that travels and inside-out scoring ability that is rare. Bonnici is a known commodity who combines low-post scoring with a nice mid-range game — plus she snatches every rebound that is close.
But talented 5-foot-11 sophomore Anika Jones is getting better each week. Hackett said she benefits from facing Bonnici in practice every day. Jones finished with a game-high 13 points.
Willow Bonnici of Gig Harbor shoots over Emi HansonSmith of Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Vincent Starr
“Jones has been on fire with her toughness and aggressive play,” Hackett said. “Her and Willow give us an incredibly strong inside game, necessary for any playoff run.”
Peninsula largely cleaned up the turnover issue in the second half, but struggled with poor shooting. Seahawks senior Beverly Dover made 3-pointers in the second, third and fourth quarters for her team-high nine points, but ended 3-13 from beyond the arc.
The Tides then concentrated on trying to block out freshman standout Emi HansonSmith, who battled in the paint with Bonnici and Jones. HansonSmith showed why she may be a future star with hustle and athletic ability, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and scoring seven points.
Some promising young players took the opportunity to flash for the Tides, including freshman Jalaay Miller, Kaliyah’s younger sister. She does things that don’t always show up in the stat book like making correct decisions, communicating well and playing proper help-side defense.
The Tides also got some fine contributions from freshman Sarah Cody (five steals with six deflections) and freshman Khloe Squance, who kept the Tides’ inside game strong with four points while the starters rested.
Peninsula hosts Central Kitsap at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, and plays at North Thurston at 7 p.m. Jan. 22.
Gig Harbor plays at River Ridge at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 before hosting Lincoln at 7 p.m. Jan. 23.
Gig Harbor 51, Peninsula 28
Gig Harbor: Kaliyah Miller 12, Ashlyn Peirce 11, Willow Bonnici 6, Anika Jones 13, Jalaay Miller 0, Jill Mock 3, Khloe Squance 4, Sarah Cody 0, Bella Altman 2, Lili Maxion 0
Peninsula: Gracie Robinson 4, Emi HansonSmith 7, Beverly Dover 9, Paige Jones 0, Izzy Michaels 0, Eden Schnabel 1, Olivia Furer 3, Olivia Strilcov 2, Ellie Adams 2
Puget Sound League Narrows Division girls basketball standings as of Jan. 19, 2026.
Puget Sound League Nisqually Division girls basketball standings as of Jan. 19, 2026.