The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team hasn’t enjoyed this type of early success in the past couple years by having an unblemished mark in December.
The Cougar women, who boast an eye-popping 12-0 mark, will look to finish the first semester unbeaten when they host the Lady Cougar Holiday Classic this weekend. WNCC will face Colby Community College on Thursday and then Trinidad State Junior College on Friday. The tournament runs through Saturday.
The big reason this team is sitting on top of the Region IX standings with that lofty record is because of their defense. The Cougars are the top defensive team in the region so far, giving up just 47.8 points a game. Otero is second allowing 48.6 points followed by Northeastern Junior College at 53.1 and Lamar Community College at 54.5.
“This team, for some reason, enjoys playing defense,” WNCC coach Dave Harnish said. “They enjoy that and they work together in helping each other out on defense. We actually control the game very well on the defensive end and we also rebound very well. There are a couple nights we haven’t, but we have always been steady defensively. That saved us in two or three games that we would have lost if we didn’t defend well.”
The last time the Cougars were unbeaten after one semester was just a few years ago, in 2006-07 when they ran to an 18-0 start. The Cougars also had a huge winning streak in 2004-05 when the squad ran off 25 straight wins, resulting in the squad being ranked No. 1 during the regular season in February.
The last time the Cougars were unbeaten after one semester was just a few years ago, in 2006-07 when they ran to an 18-0 start. The Cougars also had a huge winning streak in 2004-05 when the squad ran off 25 straight wins, resulting in the squad being ranked No. 1 during the regular season in February.
The Cougar women also went undefeated back in 1994-95 when they started the season 14-0. Another strong start to the season was in the 2005-06 season when the team ran off to a 13-0 start before being upended by Colby Community College 71-70 in this same Holiday Classic that they will host this year.
That is why Harnish is approaching this weekend’s games with caution, especially when the players have vision of finals and going home for Christmas in their heads.
“We can’t overlook anybody. These are two teams that we have beaten but with finals week and everything else going on, we just can’t overlook anyone,” he said. “I think this is always a tough week for us because it is Finals Week starting on Thursday and the kids know it is their last two games before they have three weeks off and they are looking to go back home.”
“It is trying to keep them focused and keep them in the mindset of where they need to be. This weekend is important to play well and keep on riding and doing the things that we have done to be successful to win games. As long as we do that, we will be fine this week playing at home. But, if we lose that edge, I think anybody can beat you.”
Harnish, however, said that he would have been more disappointed if this team wasn’t unbeaten at this stretch of the season since they really haven’t played a top 20 team.
“I thought last year we were challenged a little better early on by playing Seward and Midland. We lost those games, but played very good teams,” he said. “This year we haven’t played a top 20 team, but we have won the games that we were supposed to win.
Harnish said during this 12-game winning streak, they had some close games, some blow outs, but each win brought out character for his squad.
“We have had to learn to play in tight games this year. We have won a game by one point, we have won a game by four points, and we won this weekend by seven. So, we have been challenged and somehow we have fought through. We have been able to make the right shots and do the right things in the close games. From that standpoint we have gotten better and tougher. I think in those games we had good leads. We had 10 to 14 points leads and let them slip away, and then we found a way to win at the end. Somehow we found a way to be 12-0 and we are certainly excited about it. In a sense, if you look at the schedule, I would be disappointed if we weren’t 12-0. Is it where I expected us to be? Yes, I was hoping we could be 12 or 14-0 and be undefeated. I thought we could do it and it is nice that we are.”
Both Cougar games will start at 7 p.m. After this weekend’s series of games, the Cougars will be off until Jan. 11, 2011, when they host Eastern Wyoming College in a men’s, women’s doubleheader.
NOTES: Friday night’s contest will be Kids Club Pizza Night. All registered Kid’s Club members can show their Kid’s Club Pass for a free slice of pizza in the concession stand. Also, Santa Cougar, the twin of Cougar mascot Buddy the Cougar, will make a special trip to Scottsbluff so the kids can have their picture taken with Santa Cougar before and during halftime of the women’s game.
Women’s Region IX Standings
WNCC 12-0
NE Colorado 8-0
Western Wyoming 10-2
Gillette College 9-2
Miles C.C. 8-2
Otero J.C. 8-2
Central Wyoming 7-2
McCook C.C. 9-4
Northeast Nebraska 9-4
Eastern Wyoming 6-4
Sheridan 7-5
Casper 5-4
Southeast Nebraska 7-6
North Platte 4-4
Lamar C.C. 5-6
Little Big Horn 4-6
Northwest Wyoming 3-7
Dawson C.C. 3-6
Trinidad State 3-8
For updated standings, schedules, results and stats, visit the Region IX webpage at regionixathletics.com
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