Mount Vernon, WA - It's not typical that EvCC hoops plays on a Sunday, but with the NFL playoffs on pause this weekend, a little NWAC Sunday hoops was the perfect sports void to fill before the Super Bowl. Sunday's game against Skagit Valley was a reschedule from two and a half weeks ago when the area was blanketed with icy conditions and postponed many local games. Due to gym availability on SVC's campus, February 4th was the only day that was available, and the Trojans were ready.
Despite not having their own gym to practice in over the previous two days due to a gymnastics competition at the Walt Price Center, EvCC found a way to get the job done. The first quarter was a struggle offensively as Everett shot just 20% from the field, yet a pair of threes and four trips to the free throw line kept EvCC within three by the start of the second quarter. The field goal percentage improved slightly and three's from Jada Andresen and Baylor Thomas kept the Trojans in the game. The largest problem for EvCC was Skagit Valley's offensive rebounding which led to several second chance points. By the halftime buzzer, the Cardinals had 15 offensive rebounds alone which equaled the total number of rebounds for Everett. Even with the shooting and rebounding struggles, EvCC found themselves only trailing by four.
The game would be about overcoming adversity, and it was the third quarter that Everett started to turn the quarter. Skagit Valley still was a problem on the offensive glass, but the shots for EvCC started to fall more consistently led by Baylor Thomas and Jada Andresen's combined 14 points in the quarter. EvCC was able to trim the deficit to two after outscoring SVC 18-16 in the quarter.
The Cardinals got the first bucket of the 4th quarter, but Everett answered with an 11-2 run (4 points from Ghadir Ramadan off the bench) to take a five point lead at 51-46 with six minutes remaining. Skagit fought back to tie the game at 52, but EvCC converted on nine free throws down the stretch and Jada Andresen put an exclamation point on the game with her fifth made three of the game. Getting defensive stops in the final three minutes along with keeping Skagit off the boards, limiting second chance opportunities allowed Everett to win it going away 65-58.
Baylor Thomas finished the game with 26 points and 6 assists. Andresen had 17 points, fifteen of which came from beyond the arc. By the end of the game, Skagit Valley totaled 27 offensive rebounds but shot just 31% from the floor and only made one three on fifteen attempts.
Everett moves to 9-12 on the season with a 2-5 north region record, which sits them at 5th place in the standings. Bellevue is two games ahead at 4th, and will be the Trojans next opponent at home on February 10th. Before that game however EvCC will get geared up for a rivalry showdown with Edmonds. That game will be in Lynnwood, at Seaview gym with a 5pm tip off.