Trojans Score 54 Inside, Top Bellevue

Everett, WA – The Trojans hosted the Bellevue Bulldogs on Wednesday hoping to bounce back from a one point loss two nights ago to Peninsula, and avenge a four point road loss to Bellevue earlier in the year. 

Bellevue started out red hot connecting on 50% from beyond the arc and building an 11 point lead.  The Trojans tightened up defensively and strung together a series of buckets to eventually reclaim the lead with five minutes to go in the half.  The Trojans held on to that lead and went into the break up by six at 53-47. 

The hot shooting for Bellevue came back to start the 2^nd half, going on an 12-5 run to take the lead back within the first three minutes of the half.    Everett responded with a bucket of their own to go back ahead and from there it was a back and forth slugfest of six lead changes. 

The Trojans built the lead out to 8 with eleven minutes to go, but true to the flow of the game Bellevue fought to claw back to within 2 at the six-minute mark.  Sophomore Devin Smith and freshman Brycen Dillworth combined for the next seven points for EvCC pushing the lead back to seven and back to back Brayden Quantrille layups pushed the lead to eleven with just under two minutes to play.

Bellevue would not lie down, and a hard take to the bucket would draw a 5^th and final foul on Brycen Dillworth who finished the game with 19 points and 7 assists.  The Bulldog run continued and closed the gap to four after a made three with 16 seconds remaining, but that would be as close at it would get as Everett would convert on their free throws to preserve the win, 96-88.

Brendon Redford led Everett with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Jake Howe added 21 and converted on 4 of 8 three point shots. 

The tale of the tape was Everett's dominance inside scoring 54 points in the paint, and getting to the line 30 times, converting 19 free throws. 

The Trojans will be back at it this Saturday, when the travel to Peninsula in a quest to avenge the loss earlier this week.