Trojans Nearly Pull of Upset at Home

Everett, WA - The Everett Trojans battled one of the top teams in the region down to the final possession Saturday afternoon, falling just short in a 76-73 thriller to Olympic College Rangers at Everett Community College. Facing a solid Olympic squad that improves to 16-9 overall and 7-4 in league play, the Trojans (7-18, 3-8) showed resilience and fight, outscoring the Rangers in the second half and nearly completing an impressive comeback.

After trailing 38-31 at the half, Everett turned the momentum in the third quarter. The Trojans poured in 23 points in the period while tightening up defensively, cutting into the deficit and setting up a dramatic fourth quarter. Everett's defensive pressure produced 12 steals on the afternoon and helped force 21 Olympic turnovers, keeping the game within reach throughout.

Jordan Hentel led the way offensively with a game-high 23 points, attacking the rim and converting 9-of-11 free throws, before having to leave the game in the 4th quarter with an injury. Myah Galdeira added 21 points in a strong all-around performance, knocking down 3-of-6 from beyond the arc while dishing out eight assists and grabbing five rebounds. Kaila Oudom chipped in 13 points, connecting on three three-pointers, while Selena Espinoza contributed eight points and three steals. As a team, the Trojans shot 39.1% from three-point range (9-for-23) and an impressive 80% from the free throw line (16-for-20), capitalizing on key opportunities to stay within striking distance.

Olympic was paced by Jordan Hentel's counterpart Ollie Decker, who scored 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Cesaria Pelagio added 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench. The Rangers controlled the glass with a 53-30 rebounding edge, including 20 offensive boards, which proved to be a decisive factor in the narrow outcome.

Despite the final margin, the Trojans demonstrated their growth and competitiveness against a quality opponent. Everett will look to build on the momentum from Saturday's effort as they hit the road Wednesday to take on Peninsula College Pirates in another important league matchup. Tip off is set for 7:00pm in Port Angeles.