Longview, WA – After a one year hiatus (due to COVID-19) The Trojans returned to the campus of Lower Columbia College for the Red Devil Classic, a post Thanksgiving tournament that the EvCC men's basketball has attended every year since the 1990's. Everett entered the tournament with a 3-0 record and faced Southwestern Oregon CC on the first day. Despite outshooting the Lakers from the floor with a higher percentage, the difference in the game was won on the free throw line with SWOCC converting four more and handing the Trojans their first loss of the year 86-81. Brycen Dillworth had a break out day scoring 19 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. Cam Millican added 17 to go along with 4 assists and Christian Zamora scored over 10 points for the 4th consecutive game coming off the bench, finishing the day with 13.
The first day loss resulted in a matchup with Centralia College who lost their opening round game to a tough Yakima Valley team. The Trojans defeated Centralia a week prior in the Everett Season Tip Off by a final score of 97-88. The Trailblazers eager for a chance at redemption and on a neutral floor held onto a four point lead through the first seven minutes of action. But the Trojans eventually found their rhythm taking a nine point lead by halftime. Everett continued to shoot the ball well in the second half going 51.6% from the floor compared to Centralia's 39.3% and by the final horn, cruised to an 87-72 victory. For the second straight game Brycen Dillworth finished with 19 points, which was matched by Brendon Redford who had a nice bounce back game after a lower scoring performance the night before. One other Trojan, Leon Sayers scored in double figures finishing the night with 11 points, on 5-9 shooting.
On the final day, Everett got matched up with Spokane who lost the previous night in a close battle with host Lower Columbia College 72-68. EvCC looked to be in control of the game from the onset, building to a 12 point lead through the first ten minutes and pushing out to 13 by halftime on the heels of Leon Sayers' 12 first half points. The Trojans showed enough resiliency to fend off a Spokane run trimming the lead to just one within the first five minutes of the second half. The Sasquatch eventually tied the game at 48 with thirteen and a half minutes remaining. Over the next six minutes, Everett responded with a 15-2 run, and held on to that cushion for the remainder of the game winning by a final score of 77-63. Leon Sayers finished with 19 points for a new season high, and Brendon Redford added 14 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. Freshman Raefe McEnroe came off the bench and scored 10 points, adding 8 rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
The two wins over the weekend moved the Trojans to 5-1 on the young season with their next contest slated for December 4th at South Puget Sound CC.