Sunday, February 18, 2007

Cougar men down North Platte, will host regional tournament

The WNCC men's basketball team hasn't hosted a Region IX tournament since 1998. But that streak is now over after the Cougars benefited from a hot-shooting second half in registering a 65-57 victory over North Platte Community College Saturday.

The win gives the Cougars the East sub-region title and guarantees WNCC to righ to host next month's Region IX tournament. For WNCC coach John Jungers, whose team shot 60 percent from teh field in erupting for 45-second half points, the win proved extra sweet.

"I'm thrilled for our guys and it was a tremendous effort by these young men," Jungers said. "I'm very proud of them. This win was great for the community and its great for the college to have the regional tournament here in Scottsbluff."

WNCC's second-half shooting is what sparked the Cougars to victory. The Cougars made all five of their 3-pointers in the deciding half, while holding North Platte to 0-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

Three Cougar players finished in double figures. CJ Hampton tallied 16 points to the way followed by Erik Smith and Ricardo De Bem with 11 points each. North Platte was led by Danny Tucker with 16 and Nathan Wilson with 11.

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