Overtime Thriller Avenges Loss

Wenatchee, WA - The Trojans avenged the loss to Wenatchee Valley College, with an overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon.  With 19 seconds to go in overtime, trailing 84-86 the Trojans got a defensive stop, and then came down on the other end to hit a three and ultimately come out on top 87-86.

The two teams were once again evenly matched and that was evident by the see-saw battle in the first half with four ties and eight lead changes.  The Trojans held the largest lead of the half, going on a 6-0 run to take a 21-16 lead, but it would be the home Knights that would have the lead at halftime, getting a rebound put back to go up 28-25.  The Trojan defense held WVC to just 1-9 shooting from beyond the arc, and 10-25 from the field, but had their own struggles offensively making just one three on six attempts, and shooting 39% from the field. Myles Shields and Jailin Johnson each had 6 points to lead EvCC in scoring.  Two Trojans found themselves in foul trouble, Eric Thomas and Shon Reid both giving up three first half fouls.

Whatever was said at halftime by both coaching staffs, it changed the offensive output for both teams.  Everett started knocking down shots and doubled their first half numbers with 50 points and shooting 60% from the field, making 6 of 9 from three.  Johnson had a huge half with 19 points and Ty Hale came off the bench to provide 9 big points all of which from three.  Wenatchee got it going as well and EvCC had a tough time stopping Eamon Monahan who scored 20 second half points and hit the shot to tie the game at the end of regulation 75-75. 

The end of regulation was a wild one giving the fans at Auvil Fruit Court their money's worth.  EvCC trailed 73-71 with 32 seconds to go.  Johnson brought the ball up the floor, and beat his defender into the paint putting up a tough shot, and tied the game at 73.  Then on the defensive end, Eric Thomas came away with a steal early in the possession and threw it ahead to Nate Harding who made the layup in transition with 8.8 seconds to go and setting up Monahan's game tying shot.

The overtime period did not lack in entertainment value either.  Wenatchee got the first two buckets to go up by four, but the Trojans kept it close and answered eventually tying the game back up at 82 on an Eric Thomas free throw.  Wenatchee was able to go back up by four with 1:04 to play.  Jailin Johnson drop to the bucket and couldn't convert but was fouled after getting his own rebound.  He calmly stepped up and hit both free throws to get EvCC back within 2.  After a defensive stop, Johnson brought the ball down the floor with less than 15 seconds remaining.  He found Nate Harding streaking to the corner, and Harding hit the three (his 3rd of the game) to put Everett up 87-86 with 4.2 seconds remaining. 

After a timeout Monahan drove the length of the floor for the Knights and got off a shot that rolled around the rim, but did not fall, giving EvCC the win. 

Jailin Johnson finished the game with 25 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds.  Two Trojans had double doubles, Myles Shields with 16 points, 10 rebounds and Eric Thomas with 12 points and 10 10 rebounds.  Nate Harding had 13, including the game winner.  Everett finished the game shooting 50% from the floor and improved their effort on the free throw line from last Wednesday's contest making 19 of 27 free throws (70.4%).

Everett will return home to face Northwest Indian College on Monday night.  That tip off is set for 7:00pm.