The Western Nebraska Community College and North Platte Community College men’s basketball games will take on a different meaning this year.
Instead of just regular season contests, the contests this year will be sub-region games after WNCC was shifted to the East Sub-region after Southeast Community College dropped to Division II status.
So, tonights’ 6:30 contest at North Platte is the first sub-region contest of the year for either team. And, what makes the sub-region games even more important is the winner of the East sub-region hosts the Region IX Tourney in March.
“Whoever wins the sub-region has a chance to host the regional tournament and that is a goal that we have set,” WNCC first-year coach John Jungers said. “I don’t think anybody is going to go undefeated in the sub-region. So, I think it will be a battle and this is the first scrimmage in the battle.”
Other teams in the East Sub-region are Northeast (Neb.) Community College and McCook Community College. Previous years, the Cougars were in the Central Sub-region, which included Eastern Wyoming, Laramie County, Casper College and Western Wyoming. WNCC will still play EWC, LCCC and Casper, but they will not be count toward seedings for the regional tournament.
With that, Jungers is just hoping his team rides into North Platte and plays well. And, really, that is all he can ask of his team.
“It is an important game, but it won’t make or break our season,” he said. “It is important to go and play on the road, and North Platte is a tough place to play. They have a good team and if we can come out and steal one on their home court, that would put us in a good position in the sub-region.”
WNCC has been off since Nov. 19 when they defeated Luke Air Force Base 83-67 in the final day of the Air Force Prep tournament. Since then, the team has had a good nine days of practice and relaxation, and Jungers said they will be ready to go.
“I wasn’t really sure how the guys were going to handle this break, but I think we got some rest,” he said. “We were a little road weary and we received some time to get our legs under us and to refine some things both offensively and defensively. I think they are going to be ready to play.”
The Cougars feature three players averaging in double figures. Sophomore Ricardo De Bem is averaging 15.875 points a game. De Bem, who is headed to Texas Tech next year, is also 6.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 62 percent from the field.
Sophomore CJ Hampton and freshman Maurice Wright are also averaging double-digits. Both are scoring 14.375 points a game. Hampton has already netted 17 3-pointers on 60 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Also lighting up the nets from downtown is Bridgeport’s Chance Wallesen, who has made 15 treys on 35 attempts.
Jungers said his team is getting better each day.
“We need a better defensive effort from a consistency standpoint,” he said, “Overall, though, we are doing a better job. We are moving the ball. We are taking care of the ball and running our concepts that we want to integrate into our offense.”
North Platte, on the other hand, will feature a roster loaded with talent, including two former WNCC players, Sean Burnham and Drew Frahm, who transferred to North Platte. Burnham nailed four 3-pointers in a win against Hastings College Junior Varsity earlier this month.
After tonight’s contest, the Cougars will compete in the NJC classic Friday and Saturday. Friday the team faces Air Force Prep before facing Iowa Western Community College Saturday. Both contests are at 4 p.m.
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