Everett, WA – In a matchup of unbeatens over Friday and Saturday the Trojans took on #4 ranked Clackamas CC in the de facto Championship game of the 26th annual Everett Women's Basketball Classic. The high-powered Cougars of Clackamas CC won their first two games by a combined score of 184-122 while the Trojans fought through a defensive battled on Friday and then found their stroke on Saturday defeating Big Bend 68-48.
The pace was fast and furious through the first quarter of action, and Everett held strong trailing 14-13, but a pair of Clackamas threes before the first quarter buzzer put the Cougars out in front 20-13.
The Trojans did not back down, answering with an 8-5 run and climbing back to within four inside the first four minutes. Clackamas then turned up the pressure, and sped up the game to their advantage. Everett went on a stretch scoring only two points over the next seven minutes, allowing Clackamas to create separation and went into the half with a 40-23 lead.
The break stopped the momentum Clackamas had built and the Trojans mixed up the defense showing a 2-3 zone that slowed the Cougars through the first five minutes into the media timeout. A 13-7 run brought EvCC back to within 11 after a pair of Sophia MacKenzie free throws. Everett played their best defensive quarter of the game, holding Clackamas to 13 points (their lowest quarter total of the weekend), going into the fourth trailing 53-42.
The Trojan zone defense remained solid through the fourth, giving up just 8 points in 6 minutes of action, but offensively it was a struggle to score on the other end going 2-7 from the field with three turnovers. In the end the deficit was too much to overcome with the amount of time left in the game and Clackamas prevailed 68-49.
Mikail Montez scored 15 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, bringing her career total to 412, which surpasses Ashley Houseden for 4th all time at EvCC.
Despite the loss, it was a successful weekend for the Trojans, going 2-1 and improving their record to 3-2 on the season. Everett will travel to Pasco next weekend for a rematch with Spokane on Friday at Columbia Basin College, and then will take on hosts, CBC on Saturday. The Hawks, who will be hosting the NWAC Championship tournament in March are 4-0 with a signature win over #1 ranked Peninsula College.