The quarterfinal loss was typical of the Cougar’s second semester where they struggled defensively. Otero shot a blistering 57 percent (12 of 21) from the 3-point line including 7 of 9 in the second half. The Cougars, on the other hand, shot just 44 percent from the field and were outscored 36-9 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We give up seven 3-pointers the second half and never made adjustments in knowing who the shooters are,” WNCC coach Dave Harnish said. “I think what hurt us all year hurt us tonight and that was unable to defend and rebound the ball.”
Another big key in the contest was losing sophomore Stormye Everett with about a minute left in the first half with an ankle injury. After that, Everett sat on the bench with her foot iced cheering on her teammates.
“We were hanging in there the first half and when Stormye went, it did hurt us,” Harnish said. “Still, the bottom line, kids have to step up and we just didn’t do that. We struggled all semester in recognizing who the shooters are and playing defense. That is what ultimately what caught up to us in the end.”
WNCC was sticking with Otero in the first half. In fact, WNCC zipped out to an 11-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Yuki Morimoto and four points each from Tiffany Moorer and Carolina Alves. Otero came back scoring the next six points to slice the lead to 11-8 before WNCC went ahead 16-11 on an Everett 3-pointer.
The Cougars led 28-23 after a bucket by Shelby Campbell and two field goals from Everett with four minutes to play. Otero came back to tie the game at 30 on a 3-pointer by Desiree Marrufo, Angie Angie Andenucio gave momentum to Otero heading into the locker room after she nailed a trey to tie the game at 33-33
WNCC started slow in the second half, but a bucket by Moorer and a driving layup by Amber Kistler put WNCC up 41-40. The Cougars pushed the lead to 46-43 on back-to-back Thais Pinto buckets. Otero fought back, in taking a 53-48 lead and led 57-50 at one stretch.
The Cougars came back scoring the next six points on a bucket by Moorer and four points from Pinto to cut the lead to 57-56. Otero wasn’t rattled as Chelsea Rotondo drained a 3-pointer followed by buckets by Marrufo and Tracy Fosterling for a 64;56 lead. The closest the Cougars got after that was 64-60 with 30 seconds to play.
Morimoto paced the Cougars with 16 points, 13 in the first half. Pinto also finished with double digits, finishing with 13 points. Morimoto also had nine rebounds.
Otero was paced by Marrufo with 19 points followed by Andenucio with 13 and Rotondo with 12.
The Cougars finish the season with a 24-8 record and losses just two sophomores – Everett and Kistler – from this year’s team.
“The disappointing thing is we had such a good first semester and expectations were high second semester. We just could never get that toughness and desire to really want to win every game back,” Harnish said. “Both of the sophomores were key for us this year. They were kids that were our two leading scorers on the team and they both competed and played hard and did the things we expected on the floor. I certainly wish them the best of luck and I appreciate the effort that they gave us.
“There is no question that Amber works hard. She is a local kid that comes in and works hard. She puts the time in and that is all you want from kids today.”
WNCC (24-8) 33 27 – 60
OTERO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Melinda Perry 4, Kari Ameling 11, Kaitlyn Lowen 5, Tracy Fosterling 4, Chelsea Rotondo 12, Desiree Marrufo 19, Angie Andenucio 13.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Amber Kistler 5, Stormye Everett 7, Shelby Campbell 3, Yuki Morimoto 16, Ariane Brown 2, Tiffany Moorer 8, Carolina Alves 4, Thais Pinto 13, Kelli Culver 2.
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