Shoreline, WA - The Trojans extended their winning streak to four games on Wednesday night after toppling Shoreline who was previously in first place in the north region standings and ranked number 1 in the NWAC according to Brooks Scouting Report. In their previous meeting, Shoreline escaped Everett with a two point victory, thanks in large part to Everett shooting a season low 32% from the floor and converting on just 9 of 23 free throws for a season low 39% from the line. But the Trojans came into Wednesday's road contest riding a three game win streak, knocking off previously #1 ranked Skagit Valley last week, and playing some of their best basketball so far this season.
Everett opened up the game with a Cam Millican three, but the two teams remained deadlocked for much of the first half. The Trojans got out to as much as a five point lead before Shoreline went on a 12-6 run to take their first lead of the game at 18-17 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half. Shoreline's largest lead of the game came in the final minute of action after their third three point field goal of the half stretched the Dolphin lead out to 8 where the cushion remained and the home team went into the break with a 37-29 lead. The Trojan offense once again looked a little stagnant, going just 1-10 from beyond the arc and only getting to the free throw line twice. Raefe McEnroe was a bright spot in the first half for Everett, coming off the bench to score 10 points on 5-7 shooting and grabbing 4 rebounds.
The Trojans opened up the 2nd half action the same way they began the game, with a made three this time by Leon Sayers. EvCC then went on a 10-1 run to reclaim the lead at 39-38 after having just played a minute a half. It would be a seesaw battle for the remainder of regulation with 10 ties, and neither team getting up by more than six points. EvCC's last lead of regulation came with 8:10 remaining and never quite able to get over the hump. Down by three with 20 seconds to play to play, Leon Sayers came up big again hitting a three from the corner to tie the game and send it into overtime. Despite a number of close games this season (five decided by five or less points) this was EvCC's first overtime game of the season.
In the five-minute overtime period, Everett again took the early lead, getting out to as much as four with two minutes remaining. Shoreline converted on a made bucket to draw the game back to within two with 39 seconds to play. A Dolphin foul would send Raefe McEnroe to the line where he converted on one of two and put the Trojans back up by three. The EvCC defense held strong and forced a missed three point attempt, but a turnover would give Shoreline one more opportunity with seven seconds remaining. Again Everett's defense in the final seconds forced a tough shot and once again the visiting team between these two schools came away with the victory. Though free throw and three point shooting as a team was less than stellar, Everett still managed to shoot 47% from the floor and scored a dominate 50 points in the paint.
Cam Millican led the Trojans with 20 points and 9 rebounds followed by two 17-point performances by Brendon Redford and Leon Sayers. Raefe McEnroe came off the bench to add 11 points and 7 rebounds. The win brings Everett up in the standings to a three-way tie at 5-3 with Peninsula and Skagit Valley. Everett beat both of those teams in their first contest so they currently hold the advantage for third place in the region. The Trojans will host Bellevue on Sunday a team they lost to on the road earlier this season, but have struggled a bit since, at one time losing four straight before winning their last two. The Bulldogs sit at 4-4 and hungry to climb back into the playoff picture. Tip off is set for Sunday, February 20th at 4pm.