Raiders’ Second-Half Surge Falls Short as Grays Harbor Holds On for 69-64 Win

In a competitive matchup on the road, the Pierce College Raiders (3-11, 0-1) fell short against the Grays Harbor Chokers, who secured a 69-64 victory. The game, which marked both teams' first conference appearance of the season, was dominated by Grays Harbor early on, who shot efficiently and capitalized on Pierce’s mistakes to build a comfortable 41-24 lead by halftime. However, the Raiders made a valiant effort in the second half, outscoring Grays Harbor 40-28. While Pierce's second-half surge was impressive, it was ultimately not enough to erase the large deficit they faced coming out of the first half.

Mande Wanlemvo led the charge for Pierce, finishing with 20 points and 9 rebounds. His all-around performance helped spark the Raiders' second-half rally, but despite his efforts, Grays Harbor was able to hold off the late push.

Braxton Gruenich chipped in with 11 points and 6 rebounds, playing an important role in the Raiders' offensive efforts. Jackson Penigar also scored 11 points, keeping Pierce within striking distance as the game progressed.

The Raiders will look to build on the positives from their second-half performance as they continue their search for their first conference win.

Up Next: Pierce will host Highline on Saturday, January 11th at 3:00pm.