The Clipper

Issue date: 1/29/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: TJ Cotterill Dirk Snel attempts to drive by two Bellevue College defenders. Snel recorded a season high 37 points including five three-pointers against Bellevue.

The EvCC men's basketball team looks to rebound from a dismal first half of the season.

The Trojans currently sit at 2-4 in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Northern Region. The Trojans are toward the bottom of the division at eight place but sit only three games out of first place right around the halfway point of the season. A few key wins and the Trojan men will be right back in the thick of things.

"We know we can get there. We just need to step up and start winning some big games," said sophomore guard Teagan Dooley.

Because the Trojans are so undersized
rebounding is critical for them to stay in games, and when the team has its woes, the main thing is rebounding. "Rebounding is very critical for us since we are so small," said freshman guard Val Hennings. The Trojans currently average just over 38 rebounds a game which is good for 26 out of the 34 teams in the NWAACC, but their opponents are averaging just over 48 rebounds. "When we see failure it's rebounding and playing together that give us problems," Dooley said.

Although the team is struggling, leadership is key to the victories they have had to date. "Aaron Matzen, Bryan Koch and Dirk Snel are definitely the leaders," said Dooley.

Currently Boyd, Dooley, Koch, Matzen and Snel are averaging double figures in scoring for the year. Snel leads the team in points with 23.3 per game, in assists with five per game and in rebounds just under 7 per game.

The Trojan men like to play at an up-tempo pace and have found some success doing so.
The team is shooting slightly under 42 percent from the floor including 51.6 percent from inside the three point line and under 32 percent from behind the three point line. "Taking the three and finishing games are when we have the most success," said Dooley.

When the Trojans win they shoot 43 percent from the floor including 48 percent from the inside the arc and just under 38 percent from behind the three point line.

Defense is also a key to the Trojans success. The Trojans force their opponents to turn the ball over 18 times per game. They also rank first in the conference with an average of only 13.2 turnovers a game.

Every remaining game is equally important, as the eight teams within three games of each other in the division jockey for position to make the playoffs. Key upcoming games for the Trojans include at Skagit Valley on Jan. 30, home against Seattle on Feb. 6 and at Whatcom on Feb. 10.

The next Trojans home game is set for Feb. 3 at the Boys and Girls Club in Marysville at 1010 Beach Avenue.

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