Trojans Spoil Pirate Sophomore Night

Port Angeles, WA – With just two games left in the regular season, the north region standings are jam packed, with seven of the eight teams still vying for a spot in the NWAC playoffs.  Peninsula upset the Trojans 95-85 a month ago in Everett, and sat a game ahead of EvCC in the standings.  Ese Onakpoma of Peninsula lit up the scoreboard in the previous meeting, scoring 39 points and simply could not be stopped shooting over 63% from the floor.

Everett fell behind 9-2 to open up the game but regained the lead 10-9 just a minute later on a Daniel Headdings lay in set up by Ethan Martin's steal and assist.   The score went back and forth over the next 12 minutes.  In the final two minutes, the Trojans pushed a one point lead out to as many as eight, and went into the break with a 50-44 lead.  Hayden Conaxis led the team with 13 points off the bench, while Onakpoma was held to 11 points on 2 of 7 shooting, but it would be another scoring threat, Javon Ervin for the Pirates who had 22 first half points on 9-11 shooting. 

Everett extended the halftime lead out to 15 but the Pirates on sophomore night would not go away quietly.  The lead was kept comfortably until Onakpoma hit a three with just under 9 minutes to play to pull Peninsula to within three. That however would be the closest they would get for the rest of the game as EvCC made key baskets when they needed to, and held on to win 87-81. Onakpoma finished 2ith 22 points and Ervin finished with 29, but four Trojans scored in double figures, led by Ethan Martin's 17 points.  Conaxis did most of his damage in the first quarter but finished with 15 points, and Derek Smith and Daniel Headdings each had 14. 

The Trojans sit tied with Peninsula in the standings at 7-6, and have a big game on Wednesday at Whatcom in which a win will solidify a spot in the NWAC playoffs.  Tip off is set for 7pm.