Everett, WA – Four Trojan sophomores were ready to go on Wednesday night for their final home game in a Trojan uniform. Derek Smith, Daniel Headdings, Khalil Gilbert, and Raefe Mcenroe have all contributed major minutes and have played their role in positioning the Trojans to make a run for the NWAC championship. A fifth sophomore Ben Ackerley, sustained a season ending injury back in December, but has remained with the team supporting in practices and from the sidelines.
Once the sophomore festivities concluded, the Trojans squared off with Olympic College, a team much better than their record shows and have caused fits for many opponents this season including upset wins over Whatcom and Bellevue. The previous meeting between these two teams results in a Trojan win, 88-75, but it was close throughout the contest and only late in the game did EvCC create some separation.
The Trojans began the game by fiercely attacking the rim, shooting 66% from the floor, making 4 of 4 free throws, and taking a 12-5 lead by the first media timeout. The lead grew to as many 12 before Olympic stretched together a 14-0 run and claimed their first lead of the game. Raefe McEnroe broke the four-minute scoring drought for EvCC on a rebound put back but the Olympic zone defense continued to make it difficult for the Trojan rim attack to continue. Despite the challenges, Everett did just enough to keep pace and the score was tied at 39 at the half. It was a balanced scoring attack as Martin, Smith, and McEnroe each had 8, with five other Trojans scoring at least one bucket.
Olympic got the first buckets of the second half, but the Trojans went on a run to build a nine-point lead, 56-47, with 15 minutes to play. Olympic fought back over the course of the next ten minutes and every time EvCC pushed the lead out, OC hit key buckets to keep the game from getting out of hand. At the final media timeout with, 4:42 remaining the Trojans had a five-point lead.
Everett again built the lead out, but with just over a minute to play, Olympic hit a three that would bring them back to within seven. The Rangers forced two straight turnovers, burying back-to-back threes to come back to within one. Another Trojan turnover and foul gave Olympic a trip to the free throw line where they made one of two to tie the game at 89. The Trojans would get the last possession with 16 seconds remaining.
Jailin Johnson got the ball and drove to the lane getting fouled and sinking both free throws to give the Trojans a two-point lead. With four seconds to go Olympic inbounded the ball and got off a last second three to spoil sophomore night, and the Rangers upset EvCC 92-91.
Derek Smith finished with 23 points, and three other starters were in double figures, Martin with 16, McEnroe with 16 and Johnson with 12. Smith also recorded the double double with 10 rebounds.
The loss drops Everett to 6-6 and tied for fourth place with Whatcom. The road ahead will be tough as Everett will need to go on the road, and likely need to win both games to get into the playoffs. They'll travel on Saturday to Peninsula who sits in second place at 7-5 (tied with Skagit Valley), and then in what will likely determine the last of the available playoff spots, a road game against Whatcom next Wednesday.