Shelby Campbell has played in front of family and friends ever since she was a youngster growing up in Hemingford and now two years at Western Nebraska Community College.
So, when Saturday rolls around, Campbell and the rest of the sophomores, will play their final games in Cougar Palace against Northeastern Junior College. The women’s game has a noon tip-off, while the men’s game is slated for 2 p.m.
“I think this last home game for the sophomores will mean everything. We have worked so hard on this court. Through practice and games, there has been tears, sweat, and blood that has been shed on the court. I think it will be missed because this is our home and for us to play here one last time will be tough, but we have to do it because that is what teams do.
Campbell, Tiffany Moorer, Thais Pinto and Carol Alves are four sophomores on the women’s team, while Joe Stock and Hauns Brereton are the two sophomores on the men’s team. Campbell, Moorer, Pinto and Alves have led the team to a 26-3 record this season and a No. 19 ranking in the latest NJCAA national poll. The Cougar women will face a NJC team that is ranked No. 17 in the nation with a 25-2 record.
The Cougar women enter the contest with a perfect 13-0 home record.
“It is good motivation entering the contest that we are 13-0 on our home court,” Campbell said. “We have tremendous support from the fans and everyone to try to make it 14-0.”
But it won’t be easy contest. The last time the two women’s teams at Sterling, Colo., in January, the Plainswomen registered a 73-64 win over the Cougars, handing the Cougars their second loss of the season.
“We need to just play our game, play strong defense, box out, rebound, and just do the small things that coach has been saying through the season,” Campbell said.
The Top 20 showdown will be the last regular season game for both teams as they enter next week’s Region IX tournament in Casper, Wyo.
“We have everything in reach and we just have to accomplish it as a team and seek a trip to nationals,” Campbell said. “We have to get through this game first and then our next focus is regionals. We need to start strong and finish strong and go into regionals solid.”
While there is plenty on the line for the Cougars, Campbell the biggest thing is fighting through the tears of knowing this is the final time the sophomores will be playing in front of family and friends at Cougar Palace.
“I haven’t really thought about playing the last home game until a few minutes ago at practice when [coach Dave] Harnish brought it up,” she said. “Coach said that this is the final time that we, as sophomores, will play in Cougar Palace.”
The Cougar men will also be in an important game as they prime for the regional tournament next week in Norfolk. The Cougar men enter the final home game with a 16-13 record after getting a win at North Platte on Wednesday.
The last time the Cougars and NJC men met, the Cougars enjoyed a 69-68 win over the Plainsmen at Sterling. It will be a match-up of two the top scorers in Region IX and the nation. WNCC’s Brereton has been on a tear lately, having scored in double figures the last 13 games. He also has scored 30 or more points in four of the teams’ last five games.
Widgett Washington is NJC’s leading scorer, averaging nearly 26 points a game. Washington, who also leads Region in assists and steals per game.
After today’s contest, the Cougar men will face Gillette College in the Region IX tournament on March 5 at noon (MST) in Norfolk, while Northeastern Junior College faces Northwest Wyoming at 6 p.m. on March 5
Saturday’s contest will also honor the six sophomores on the men’s and women’s basketball team for their time at WNCC.
NOTE: The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will also be honored during halftime of the Cougar men’s contest with their NJCAA national championship rings.
The Cougar volleyball team captured their second national title in four years in November with a five-set win against San Jacinto College. Each player and coach will be presented with their national championship ring along with comments. The team will then be available for autographs after the presentation.
No comments:
Post a Comment