Community roundup: Edmonds College guard named NWAC North Region MVP

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Chris Lee didn’t rejoin the Edmonds College men’s basketball team until midseason, but the Northwest Athletic Conference determined his return was a decisive one.

Lee was named the North Region’s Most Valuable Player when NWAC announced its All-Region teams on Monday.

Lee, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard from Ketchikan, Alaska, has appeared in just 15 of Edmonds’ 29 games heading into the NWAC tournament. However, he averaged 19.5 points on 53.3% shooting, adding 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals as the Tritons took first place in the North Region.

In addition, Edmonds coach Kyle Gray was named the North Region’s Coach of the Year after guiding the Tritons to a 21-8 record overall and 11-3 in league.

Everett sophomore guard Derek Smith was named to the All-North Region first team. Edmonds freshman forward Josiah Pierre, a Kamiak High School graduate, was named to the second team along with Skagit Valley freshman forward Sylas Williams, who is a Jackson High School graduate. Everett freshman guard Jailin Johnson, a Mariner High School grad, was named to the all-defensive team along with Edmonds sophomore guard Trevon Hamilton.

On the women’s side, Edmonds sophomore forward Jada Walters and sophomore guard Keira Slippern were named first teamers; Everett first-year guard Baylor Thomas, a Lake Stevens High School graduate, was named to the second team; while Skagit Valley first-year guard Maddy Fischer, an Arlington High School graduate, and Edmonds sophomore forward Natalie Brown were named to the all-defensive team.

Mariner grad Saine earns GNAC freshman honor

Mariner High School graduate Tijan Saine, now a freshman on the Western Washington University men’s basketball team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.

Saine, a 5-foot-11 guard who redshirted last season, averaged 10.9 points and 2.3 assists in 29 games this season, and he ranked third in the conference in 3-point shooting (42.7%) and free-throw shooting (89.0%). He helped the Vikings finish 17-12 overall and 9-9 in conference play, just one win short of advancing to the postseason.

Saine is the second straight Western Washington player who’s a Mariner alum to win the Freshman of the Year award, as Vikings center BJ Kolly earned the honor last season.

Thompson steps down as EvCC women’s hoops coach

Jeannie Thompson is stepping down as the head coach of the Everett Community College women’s basketball team.

Thompson, who starred as a player for the Everett High School girls basketball team in the 1990s and had a successful stint as the coach of the Jackson High School girls team from 2003-13, was hired by Everett CC in 2021 following Chet Hovde’s retirement after 33 years at the helm. In her three seasons Thompson guided the Trojans to a 26-51 record, including 13-29 in North Region play, and reached the 2022 Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. The Trojans finished the just-completed season 11-17 overall and 4-10 in league.

Everett CC athletic director Garet Studer said in a press release that the search to find a new coach will begin immediately, with the goal being to hire a replacement by the end of March.

Uderitz joins Colorado Rapids 2

Snohomish High School graduate Hal Uderitz has signed with Colorado Rapids 2 for the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro season.

Uderitz, a central defender, was selected by the Seattle Sounders with the 76th-overall pick in the 2022 MLS Super Draft out of Seattle University. Uderitz spent the past two seasons playing for the Sounders’ MLS NEXT Pro team, the Tacoma Defiance. In 43 appearances with the Defiance he notched six goals and an assist, helping Tacoma finish first in the Pacific Division last season.

If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.