On Wednesday, Jan 29, the WCC Men’s Basketball team looked to snap a three-game skid against the Bellevue Bulldogs, the top team in WCC’s conference.
The Orcas started their high energy basketball straight out of the gates, keeping a back and forth game with the Bulldogs, but not letting Bellevue take control.
With three key players out with injury – Khalil Graham (5), Gabe Martin (15) and Jakob Taft (33) – Braden Thomas (3) helped the Orcas enormously, hitting two huge threes to swing the moment for the Orcas. With a short guard rotation, Christian Cardona (20) stepped up, helping break the full court press put on by the Bulldogs. The entire team showed up by out-rebounding the Bulldogs 19-14, seven being offensive rebounds in the first half.
With three lead changes and three ties through the first half, it was anyone’s game going into halftime – the score 36-29, Orcas down but not done yet.
Immediately out of the halftime break, Elijah Andrews (2) ignited, hitting back-to-back three pointers, cutting the score to 38-35, before coming up with a steal moments later to take the lead 41-40. Andrews ended up scoring 19 points with 16 of those coming in the second half.
When asked what sparked this energy and drove out of the locker room, Andrews said, “It was my teammates hyping me up on the bench, telling me get your head in the game and go out there and give us something. My teammates are playing hard and I am just fed off with their energy.”
Andrews’ teammates were in fact playing hard short-handed against the bigger Bellevue team, and they fought until the final buzzer. Miguel Rafael (22) scored a season high 17 points and was a major presence. Christian Cardona (20) finished with 15 points and Elihle NGcobo (35) with a season high of 11 rebounds.
Although in the end the Orcas lost, they kept it close throughout the 70-80 finish.
“We came out and said we are going to play our hardest, going to give it 100%,” said Andrews. “I feel like we did that and that creates a hard team to play against no matter who you are.”
Using the analogy of a boxing match, Andrews described how the Orcas play with hard energy that can win a battle: two fighters, one with a reputation and the other lesser known yet filled with an energy that doesn’t quit. According to Andrews, this Orca team is one that will battle it out, no matter the opponent.
This energy and grit is visible watching the games: these Orcas are just waiting to attack. They hope to let this energy carry over when they take on the Everett Trojans tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 5 p.m.
