After struggling through a tough non-league schedule, the Trojan men's basketball team has stepped up its play in league and sits tied for third in the NWAACC North Division at 2-1.

The Trojans averaged more than 14 points less than their opponents over their non-league games and finished with a 2-7 record going into league.

"I think we were just getting comfortable with each other," sophomore co-captain Kegan Bone said. "I think we are a lot better team than we played like in the pre-season."

To give the Trojans credit, six of those games were played against teams currently ranked in the NWAACC Horizon poll top 10 including two games against the top ranked Clackamas.

In the team's first win, co-captain Chris Grounds, a sophomore, had one of the best games in Everett basketball history against Grays Harbor, recording 43 points, including 10 three-pointers.

In its first league game, EvCC was matched up with Bellevue, who is currently ranked as the fourth best team in NWAACC.

Despite committing 27 turnovers to Bellevue's 17, Everett beat Bellevue 77-75 with Grounds' game high 18 points and sophomore forward Nate Holthenrichs adding 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

"We were excited to play after that time off," Bone said. "We had eight days off for the break and we came out playing pretty well."

The Trojans then went to Seattle to play Shoreline, winning 76-70 behind the energetic play of Grounds and his seven steals, and a big game from sophomore forward Stephen Waltman, whose slam dunk late in the second half silenced the crowd and added to his game high 16 points.
"We are working really hard in practice," Waltman said. "We just keep getting better every day and eventually we are going to end up where we want to be."

The Trojans then hosted fifth ranked Olympic, who is currently first place in the North Division and led 50-45 at the half with Grounds and Waltman scoring 14 points each.

The second half was just as tight after Olympic's Duntae Jones hit one of two free throws to give them a three-point lead with just eight seconds left to go.

Coach Walker drew up a play for a three in the corner, but Grounds bobbled the inbounds pass. Grounds then dribbled to the corner and got an open look for three at the buzzer but it went off the front of the rim to give Olympic an 88-85 win.

"That was the best team we have played this year," Walker said afterwards. "We had no major lapses and if we play like that we can beat anybody."

Even in the loss, the Trojans continue to improve their play since starting league games as they have shot over 42 percent from the field while during non-league games, they shot about 34 percent.

"We are getting better each game," Walker said. "This is a good group of guys who give 100 percent whoever is on the court."