Trojans Building to Form in Oregon

Gresham, OR – The women's basketball team traveled south for the NWAC Crossover tournament hosted by Mt. Hood Community College.

EvCC took on the host Saints on opening night, and put on an offensive clinic in the first quarter, putting up 21 points on 45% shooting from the floor.  Defensively, the Trojans were just as locked in allowing only 10 points on three made field goals.  Mt. Hood was able to close the gap in the 2^nd quarter, but it would still be a seven-point lead for EvCC at the half. 

The two teams played dead-locked through the third quarter shooting an even 43.8% (7-16) from the field, which meant the Trojans remained on top by seven going into the 4^th quarter.  Mikail Montez played a huge 4^th scoring 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting and going 2-2 from downtown.  Another great defensive quarter holding the Saints to just 3-17 shooting, propelled EvCC to a big 70-52 win.  Montez finished the game with 23 points, leading all scorers, and added 9 rebounds with 4 assists.  Two other Trojans scored in double figures, VanNess with 14 and 9 rebounds, and Perry with 12 and 6 rebounds. 

Everett squared up with Centralia College on Saturday, and rode the momentum from the previous night's win into that contest early on.  The Trojans started out hot, shooting 53.3% from the field in the first quarter but Centralia hung tough trailing by just two.  The shooting cooled off for Everett as a team in the second quarter, but Mikail Montez kept the rhythm going shooting 4 of 5 from the field and scoring 8 points to give EvCC a six-point advantage by the halftime buzzer.

Centralia came out hot in the 3^rd, using a 16-4 run to take the lead back at 45-44 with 51 seconds remaining in the quarter.  Centralia would tack on a made free throw to head into the 4^th quarter with a two-point advantage.  Shooting woes plagued Everett in the final ten minutes of the game, going 0-5 from beyond the arc and shooting just 26.7% from the floor.  Centralia was able to capitalize and ended up pulling away at the end winning 61-55. 

Despite Everett shooting a better percentage on the game than Centralia, the Trojans never got the deep ball going making just 3 of 19 three-point attempts.  They out rebounded the Trailblazers and shared the ball better with more assists, but in the end Centralia's ability to connect on 8 three point field goals ended up being the difference.  Maddy Thoma and Mikail Montez led the way in scoring for Everett, each with 13.  Courtney Perry came off the bench, scoring 12 and had a game high 8 rebounds. 

In the final game, Everett faced the Chukars of Treasure Valley Community College from Ontario, OR.   Neither team shot the ball extremely well in the first quarter (both 26%), and the 3^rd day tired legs appeared to be evident for both squads.  Sydney VanNess led Everett with 7 first quarter points and the scored would be tied at 13 at the end of the period.  The Trojans tacked on 13 more in the second quarter, and played their best defensive quarter of the game, holding TVCC to just 9 points on 4 of 16 shooting and forcing 6 turnovers on 5 steals.  That gave EvCC the four point advantage going into the halftime break. 

The two teams played an even 3^rd quarter, putting up 15 apiece. Everett doing it mostly from beyond the arc with three made 3FG's, and TVCC getting the majority of their buckets inside the paint with 6 field goals.  The Trojans held on to their four-point lead going into the fourth.  The Chukars converted on a couple of threes to get the quarter going, but Everett remained in the lead until just under seven minutes to play.  This was the first lead for TvCC since being up 9-8 with 4:38 to play in the first quarter.  From then on, Everett went cold going just 2 for 7 from the floor, while TVCC got hot and was able to put up 16 points in that same span.  Maddy Thoma and Thuyvi Tran made a couple of buckets down the stretch but it was too late and TvCC edged the Trojans 61-54. 

Maddy Thoma and Sydney VanNess led Everett in scoring with 15 apiece, while Mikail Montez and Courtney Perry each finished with 8 rebounds and 7 points.  ThuyVi Tran tied her season high for the second straight game with 6 assists.

Everett will not get much rest as they will return home to play one final game before the holiday break.  The Trojans are set to host Tacoma on Tuesday, Dec. 21^st at 5pm.  The Trojans defeated the Titans on their home floor earlier in the season by a final score of 63-58.