Trojans Undefeated on the Weekend

Lakewood, WA – The 5-1 Trojans traveled to Lakewood, WA over the weekend for a three-game set against Pierce College, Clackamas CC, and Treasure Valley CC.  Fresh off a loss to Lower Columbia College in the championship game of LCC's Thanksgiving tournament, Everett was eager to get back to action, and it showed with a gutsy win over the host Raiders of Pierce College on Friday night. 

Playing short-handed and battling through injuries, EvCC played to a 37-37 tie through the first half, despite shooting a decent 48% from the floor.  Colton Spencer got it going for the Trojans in the second half, scoring 18 of his 22 points for the game and led the offensive surge, outscoring Pierce by 13 in the 2^nd half en-route to an 83-70 win.  Three other Trojans scored in double figures, Jadin Penigar with 13 and Tyriq Luke and Jordan Medcalf each came off the bench to score 14 and 12 respectively. 

On Saturday afternoon, Everett faced off against Clackamas, a talented squad at 3-1.  Again, Everett put up 37 first half points on 47% shooting, but the defense was not quite as stout as the previous night, and Clackamas scored 41, thanks in large part to 6 of 13 shooting from downtown. 

In the second half the Trojans found their touch from beyond the arc and sank six threes of their own, three of which coming from Colton Spencer who had 17 second-half points.  Trailing by two with 46 seconds remaining, Jordan Medcalf converted on a jumper to tie the game at 79.  Medcalf then secured the rebound with 15 seconds to play after a missed three by Clackamas.  Spencer had a shot at the buzzer to win it, but it fell short, forcing the first overtime game of the season. 

Medcalf again sank a jumper to get the Trojans out in front after a defensive stop.  Two more lead changes saw the Trojans up 86-85 after a pair of made free throws by Tryiq Luke with just under three minutes to play.  Everett would hold on to that lead and eventually prevailed 90-86.  Spencer finished with a season high 25 points on 10-22 shooting.  Four other Trojans scored in double figures, starters JT Smith and Jadin Penigar scored 11 and 13 respectively, while Tyriq Luke and Jordan Medcalf scored 16 and 17 off the bench.  Medcalf's 17 was a season high and he also came down with a season high 12 rebounds. 

In the final game of the weekend Everett squared off with Treasure Valley, who defeated Clackamas 68-65 on Friday night, but lost 65-56 the night before to host Pierce College.  The Chukars of Ontario, OR ranked 5^th in the NWAC in three pointers made, while the Trojans entered the contest ranked 3^rd in all of the NWAC in threes made, setting up a game that may very well have been decided from beyond the arc. 

The first half had both teams playing true to form each casting up 17 threes.  The difference being, Everett converting on six, while Treasure Valley hit just one.  The Trojans altogether shot 46%, while holding the Chukars to just 25% from the field and EvCC went into the break with a 34-20 lead.  JT Smith lit it up going 4-6 from beyond the arc accounting for all 12 of his points.  Uncharacteristically however for Everett, nobody got to the free throw line which had accounted for an average of 14.1 points per game to this point in the season.

The Trojans started the second quarter out hot with 8 of 12 points scored by Penigar in the first five minutes building the lead out to 20.  Treasure Valley was able to get back to within 13 with ten minutes to play in the game, but Everett continued to but the ball through the next and it never got close.  Everett prevailed 84-63 and shot an even 50% from the field including 15 made three pointers.  JT Smith hit a couple more in the 2^nd half to add to his total finishing with 20 for a new career high.  Jadin Penigar led the team with 22 on 9-14 shooting added 5 rebounds and 2 assists.  Triq Luke continued to provide offensive firepower off the bench, scoring 19 and making 6 of 9 from three. 

After a 3-0 weekend, the Trojans improved their record to 8-1 on the season with more road games coming up this weekend against west region opponents in Green River College and Tacoma CC.  Everett will play the Gators on Wednesday and will match up with Tacoma on Saturday.