It’s been a big week for the Everett Community College men’s basketball team. The Trojans sit atop the Northwest Athletic Conference rankings, have the reigning Player of the Week, and now can call themselves region champions for the first time in nearly four decades.
It began last Tuesday. First, the league came out with it’s coaches poll and Everett retained its place at No. 1, earning seven of the eight first-place votes.
Later that day Trojans point guard Gio Jackson was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second time this season.
The sophomore from Federal Way had 21 points and 12 rebounds in an 82-78 victory at Bellevue on Feb. 14, then had a triple-double with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 100-93 victory at Edmonds on Feb. 17.
Then one day later Everett clinched the North Region title by beating Olympic at home 107-100. It’s just the second region title won by the Trojans since the inception of NWAC in 1971. The previous title came in 1978-79.
Everett goes into Wednesday’s season finale at home against Shoreline at 12-1 in league and 24-4 overall, having won 12 straight.
The Everett women’s team has also clinched a playoff spot. The Trojans’ finished their season 9-3 in league and 20-6 overall. Everett is second in the North Region, a half-game behind Bellevue, which plays its finale Wednesday at home against Olympic.
The Edmonds men’s team finds itself on the verge of a playoff spot. The Tritons are 7-6 in league and 19-9 overall, putting them in third place in the North Region heading into their last game Wednesday at Skagit Valley.
Edmonds is one game ahead of Bellevue and Whatcom, with the top four teams in the conference advancing.
Anderson named Track Athlete of the Meet at GNACs
Stanwood High School graduate Ali Anderson, now a senior at Central Washington University, was named the Track Athlete of the Meet at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships held Feb. 16-17 in Nampa, Idaho. Anderson placed first in the 200 meters (25.00 seconds), 400 (55.68) and was a member of the winning 1,600 relay team (3:50.64), of which Arlington High School graduate Sidney Trinidad was also a member. Those two helped Central tie for first with Seattle Pacific in the team competition.
On the men’s side for the Wildcats, Snohomish High School graduate and defending champion Kodiak Landis was forced to withdraw from the heptathlon because of injury.
Meadowdale grads headed to Division II wrestling nationals
Two Meadowdale High School graduates on the Simon Fraser University wrestling team qualified for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Morgan Smith, a senior who’s the top-ranked wrestler in the country at 197 pounds, finished second in his class at the Region IV Championships held over the weekend in Las Vegas. Ciaran Ball, a junior, took fourth at 285 pounds.
Smith has a 36-3 record and Ball is 35-9 heading into nationals, which take place March 9-10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Gurley wins two awards at EWU football award presentation
Archbishop Murphy High School graduate Anfernee Gurley, a freshman on the Eastern Washington University football team, came away with two awards from Eastern’s annual Awards Presentation held Sunday. Gurley was named both the team’s Freshman of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year after recording 37 tackles (17 solo, 20 assists) and two forced fumbles for an Eagles team that finished 7-4.
16-under Junior Silvertips claim state title
The Everett Junior Silvertips 16-under team claimed the state title last weekend in Tacoma. The Junior Silvertips defeated Wenatchee 6-0 and Sno-King 2-0 in round-robin play, then topped Wenatchee 13-1 for the title.
Nico Devita led the Junior Silvertips with six points (three goals, three assists) in the three games, while Taylor McCall (two goals, three assists) and Cole Dubicki (two goals, three assists) each chipped in with five.
The state title came one week after the Junior Silvertips, despite the top seed, did not advance to the semifinals of the North American Prospects Hockey League playoffs.
Shriver wins event on the minor-league golf tour
Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate Zack Shriver won his third title on the Minor League Golf Tour, taking first place in an event held Feb. 15 at Martin Downs Country Club in Palm City, Florida. Shriver shot a 4-under 67 to win by three strokes.
If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
