Trojans Tip Off the EvCC Basketball Classic

The 3-2 Trojans took on Linn-Benton in the first round of the Everett Community College Basketball Classic. Everett went into the game playing only 6 due to an injured Serafina Balderas. Linn-Benton came into the game with a healthy 2-1 squad. Linn-Benton seemed to dominate in the first period but the Trojans were able to tally on a few points toward the end to stay within 5 points. With 8 minutes left in the second period, the Trojans were down 19-13 while only shooting 25% from the field.

At the end of the 2^nd, the Trojans went into halftime down 32-19. Kelsey Mellick lead the way shooting 3-4 from the floor and 3-3 from the stripe for a total of 9 points. The Trojans level of intensity was still high in the first half but were careful to not be too aggressive and get into foul trouble. Rather than their usual scrappy defensive identity, the Trojans went into halftime with only 5 fouls and still in the game.

The second half didn't get much better for the Trojans and having only 1 sub didn't help. By the end of the 3^rd, the Trojans were now down 50-29 and the game started to seem out of reach. Linn-Benton totaled 18 offensive rebounds through 3 periods which seemed to be the difference maker giving them an advantage on shots taken.

The Trojans battled hard but took a loss in the opening round of the Basketball Classic by a final score of 63-45. Kelsey Mellick finished the game with 13 points and Hannah Hezekiah finished with 16. The Trojans will play tomorrow at 4pm.