The Cougar men, who pushed their record to 11-10, host a Knight squad that is 9-11 on the season. More importantly, the Cougars are just 1-1 in sub-region play while the Knights are 0-2. Both teams trail Northeast (Neb.) Community College, who is 3-0 in sub-region play.
Tip-off for Tuesday’s contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. The winner of the sub-region will host the Region IX tournament which begins the first weekend in March.
“It is the biggest game of the year because it is the game that is right in front of us,” WNCC coach Russ Beck said. “Hopefully, as we take the one game approach to things, we then can accomplish our overall goals.”
For the Cougars, they are still in good position, but they have to take care of business the rest of the way out after suffering a loss to Northeast Nebraska on 84-66 on Jan. 22. Since then, the Cougars have won their last two games, topping a good McCook squad 105-88 and then won a heart-stopper on Saturday against Northeastern Junior College 69-68.
“Every game down the stretch is important,” Beck said. “We have to use the non sub-region games to prepare us and help us get better for the sub-region games. So, our remaining games against Casper, Otero, NJC, and EWC, we need to get better. We are chasing Northeast a little bit, but we are still in control of our own destiny at this points. We just need to win out in the sub-region in a fashion that will give a chance to host the tournament.”
Tuesday’s contest won’t be an easy contest. North Platte, who won the Region IX tournament a year ago, has dropped it’s only two sub-region contests of the season, falling to McCook 129-104 and then losing to Northeast Nebraska on Friday 68-52.
Tuesday’s contest won’t be an easy contest. North Platte, who won the Region IX tournament a year ago, has dropped it’s only two sub-region contests of the season, falling to McCook 129-104 and then losing to Northeast Nebraska on Friday 68-52.
“North Platte won the sub-region last year and got to the national tournament,” Beck said. “They don’t have many returners form that team because they lost 10 sophomores, but they have Karol Gruszewski. He is a good player who is averaging over 22 points a game.
“North Platte is a lot like us in the fact that they are relatively young. They have good players and they are capable of getting a win. They are going to be up for it. It is a sub-region game, a rivalry game, and all of us are fighting for the same thing in trying to host the tournament.
Northeast leads the sub-region with a 3-0 mark and 17-6 overall after stopping McCook 84-80 on Saturday. All of Northeast’s sub-region wins came on the road.
Northeast leads the sub-region with a 3-0 mark and 17-6 overall after stopping McCook 84-80 on Saturday. All of Northeast’s sub-region wins came on the road.
After Tuesday’s contest, the Cougar men will travel to Eastern Wyoming College on Thursday.
NOTES:
Tuesday’s home game will also be Family Night, where every family member that comes dressed in Cougar apparel will get in for just $1 per family member. Also, Wednesday’s women’s contest between the Cougars and Lamar Community College will be Senior Citizen Day, where the first 50 seniors will receive a free popcorn and drink. Tip-off for the game is slated for 5:30 p.m.
Region IX Men’s Standings
Team Overall Sub-Region
East Sub-region
Northeast Nebraska 17-6 3-0
WNCC 11-10 1-1
McCook 12-10 1-2
North Platte 9-11 0-2
South Sub-region
Lamar CC 17-4 3-0
NE Colorado 12-9 2-0
Trinidad State 11-10 0-1
Otero JC 14-9 0-2
Laramie County 9-11 0-2
Central Sub-region
Western Wyoming 13-8 4-0
Casper 17-6 4-1
Gillette 18-5 3-2
Central Wyoming 14-9 1-3
Eastern Wyojming 4-17 0-6
North Sub-region
Sheridan 17-5 4-0
Northwest Wyoming 12-8 3-1
Dawson 11-9 2-2
Miles City 11-9 2-3
Little Big Horn 3-17 0-5
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