After beating Whatcom Community College in their first league match up of the season, EvCC squared off with the Orcas once more. The game against WCC was huge, considering that the Trojans need to finish in the top four in their division to make the NWAC championships and EvCC sits at third.

Breezy Shore for the Trojans is usually a second-half leader and scorer. Early in this game though, Shore came out firing, scoring eight of the teams first 12 points. This had kept the Trojans from falling behind to the down low presence of Whatcom’s Lindsey Honeycutt, who couldn’t be stopped down low with 13 points in the first half.

Despite the trouble down low, the Trojans had the lead after one period 17-16. The scoring went back and forth for most of the first half with the Trojans still in the lead. That was until the Orcas managed a 12-0 run that took control of the game in the first half. The run for WCC was on the back of Honeycutt who continued to be dominant in the paint. However, the Trojans were able to cut the lead to three after a huge three pointer by Jessica Reiter with 30 seconds left in the half. Trojans trailed 34-31 going into halftime.

The second half started similar to the first with both teams firing on all cylinders keeping a fast pace to the game. Shore asserted herself as usual in the second half, driving hard in the paint even taking on Honeycutt in the post at times out muscling her for rebounds. The game continued back and forth going into the fourth quarter, with the Trojans only trailing by three.

The game took a different turn when EvCC rallied off a 9-0 run to take the lead by eight, with five minutes to play in the game. This run was with Reiter leading the charge hitting two huge three pointers sparking the rally. The run was not enough as the Orcas knocked out a 8-0 run themselves tying the game at 67 with only two minutes left. At this point WCC wouldn’t look back keeping their lead the rest of the way. EvCC did make a last second charge being down 74-69 with only 30 seconds remaining. Shore hit a three on the ensuing inbounds play to cut the lead to two and giving the Trojans a chance.

Honeycutt missed one of two free throws with seven seconds left. The lead was only three and the Trojans had no timeouts, EvCC pushed the ball up court finding the hot handed Reiter on the wing, but the heave at the buzzer would fall short giving WCC the win 75-72. Reiter was the leading scorer for the Trojans with 21 points, Honeycutt was the leader for the Orcas with a whopping 28 points and 13 rebounds. Coach Chet Hovde said after the game, “this loss was on the coaches for not putting two people on Honeycutt early in the game. After this loss we just need to come to practice ready on Monday and stay focused on Edmonds.”

The next game for EvCC at Edmonds, 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, where the Trojans will look for their second victory against the Edmond’s Tritons.