Perry's Career High Lifts Trojans Over Orcas

Everett, WA – In the regular season finale, the Trojans hosted Whatcom CC on sophomore night.  Both teams are locked for the NWAC playoffs, but seeding is at stake.  The Orcas, 11-2 in north region play and 18-3 overall, are in a race for first place and the north region crown with Peninsula, needing a win for a shot to be co-champs with Peninsula.  Everett is a game behind Shoreline in the standings for 3^rd place, a win would lock the 3^rd seed from the north heading into the tournament. 

EvCC is a team known for their defensive presence, as one of the top performing teams statistically in the league, but it was their offense that shown most brightly in the first quarter.  The Trojans put up 18 first quarter points on a balanced attack with 6 different players scoring.  Whatcom was able to keep pace on the heels of their star player Madison Chisman who scored 8 of the teams 15 points. 

The two teams were evenly matched in the second quarter, with both teams scoring 14, which meant the three-point advantage in the first quarter would carry over into the halftime break.  Kinslee Gallatin led the way for EvCC with 12 first half points.

Whatcom came out of the break and flexed their muscles, en-route to a 21 point quarter, but the damage could have been greater as the Orcas went just 1of 8 from beyond the arc.  Both teams exchanged blows with six lead changes and the Trojans hung tough with the Orcas thanks in large part to Courtney Perry's 9 points and EvCC trailed by just one at 50-49 heading into the 4^th quarter. 

In perhaps the most thrilling game so far this season, Everett played their best basketball to date.  Whatcom held the lead all the way up until three minutes to play when Courtney Perry tied the game at 62.  In that span, Whatcom led by as much as five, but the Trojans never waivered and answered with a bucket each time they needed it most. 

On three straight made free-throws, Everett reclaimed the lead, but a Whatcom three ball quickly tied the game at 65 with just over two minutes to play.  Both teams locked in defensively over the next three possessions, but once again Perry got to the line, making one of two and giving the Trojans a one-point lead.  After a defensive stop, EvCC extended the lead to three on another Perry bucket inside the paint with 14 seconds to go.   The game would come down to the Trojans needing to get a stop to secure the win, something they have done so well to this point in the season.  Whatcom got off a contested three, but it was off the mark, and Everett knocked of the Orcas 69-65.

Courtney Perry had a career day, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.  As a team, Everett outrebounded the Orcas 52-40.  Sydney VanNess added 16 points and Kinslee Gallatin was the other Trojan in double figures with 13.  Mikail Montez finished with 7 points but also hauled in 12 rebounds, bringing her career total to 356 and moving her up to 8^th all time.  Her 215 rebounds on the season is good enough for 7^th all time at EvCC in a single season. 

The Trojans complete the regular season with a 12-12 record overall and 9-5 in north region play.  The finish #3 and will await selection Sunday, March 13^th to find out who they will play in the opening round of the NWAC Tournament.  That game will be played on March 19^th.