Everett, WA – The Trojans returned home, hoping to snap a two-game skid in north region play. The home court and home crowd would be needed against the #2 ranked, and winners of 12 straight Pirates of Peninsula College.
Everett opened up the game with a three from JT Smith, and got up 5-0 but the lead was short lived and Peninsula used a 10-0 run get up five themselves. Both teams played well defensively holding each other to 44% shooting. Despite going 1 for 9 from beyond the arc, Everett kept up the pressure and had a one-point lead with 1:30 to play at 33-32. JT Smith started to get hot and sank two threes in the final minute of action, giving the Trojans a 39-37 lead going into the break. JT led all scorers with 15 points.
Smith opened up the half with another three, but Peninsula went on an 11-2 run to build out to an eight-point lead. With just over twelve minutes to go, Everett battled back to tie the game at 57 on a tough Legon Sayers bucket inside.
After more end-to-end action the game was still tied, now at 61 by the under 10-minute media timeout. Peninsula gained some slight separation, going up by three with just under five minutes to play on a drive and score. The Pirates stretched the lead to five converting on two free throws, but more Trojan grit was on display to fight back and tie the game yet again with 1:31 to play. After a Tyriq Luke drive and score, head coach Mike Trautman called a timeout to set up his defense.
Peninsula got a tough bucket to go up by two, and Everett converted one of two free throws on the other end.
With twenty seconds to play, Leon Sayers went to the line for Everett, down by two. Sayers made one of two, setting up the final sequences of action. After two more Peninsula free throws, the Trojans trailed by three with just 11 seconds to go. Working the ball around Sayers got a shot off at the buzzer but it was long, and the Pirates escaped with the 84-81 win. Five different Trojans scored in double figures led by JT Smith who had 18. Tucker Molina scored 17 and had 5 rebounds to go with 4 blocks. Taras Fesiienko scored 15 off the bench and Leon Sayers added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Tyriq Luke on his first game back scored 11 and also had 7 big rebounds from the guard position.
As a team the Trojans shot 46% from the floor, but were uncharacteristically out rebounded by the athletic Peninsula team. The Pirates also converted on 21-25 free throws, while Everett did not fare quite as well, going 19-26.
The Trojans have now lost three in a row and fall to 4-3 in North Region play. They will get the weekend off, before going back through the region, starting with a road game at Skagit Valley. The Trojans defeated SVC in the first meeting by a final score of 77-73. Tip off is set for 7pm on Wednesday, February 8th.