[March 5, 2013] The
No. 22-ranked Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team first
half performance proved too much for Casper College as the Cougars posted a
67-42 win to earn a berth in the semifinals of the Region IX Tournament at
Cougar Palace.
WNCC
not only used a 13-0 run in the first period behind five points from
Torrington’s Mikayla Brower and back-to-back buckets by Bridgeport’s Ashley
Stevens, but used an tentative defense to capture the win that saw precision
shooting from the Cougars in the form of 52 percent. The Cougars also got point
production from eight players in the first half.
Stevens
said to have that kind of offensive output if crucial in a tournament as the
Cougars move into the semifinals.
“For
a tournament that is as long as this one, it is important to have a really deep
bench to come in and keep the energy going and step right in where the starters
leave off,” Stevens said. “It feels pretty good to be in the semis. Now, we
have to focus on [Wednesday’s] game and be ready for whatever McCook has for
us. The last time we played McCook wasn’t one of our stellar performances and
we have to forget that game, and know what we have been successful with so far
in this tournament and continue playing that way.”
The
Cougars will play McCook Community College in the semifinals at 7 p.m.
Wednesday. McCook dropped Western Wyoming Community College 66-56. The other
semifinal matchup will pit Northwest College against Gillette College.
Northwest dropped Sheridan College 64-59, while Gillette got by Miles Community
College 65-48. The semifinal winners will clash Thursday for the Region IX
title at 6 p.m. at Cougar Palace.
Both
semifinal contests should be a battle. Northwest and Gillette each split
contests this season. The same holds true for the WNCC and McCook contest. WNCC
dropped McCook 74-52 at Cougar Palace back in January, before the Indians
turned the trick on the Cougars at their place in February, dropping WNCC
68-51.
Stevens
knows that McCook will be a tough opponent and they have to be ready to play.
“We
started strong against Casper and it is nice to advance,” Stevens said. “It has
been our goal all season to win the regional tournament. Now, we just have to
enjoy this win and prepare for tomorrow [Wednesday]. We know itis regionals and
everyone is out to win because it is winner go home.”
Tuesday’s
nightcap was a matter of the Cougars making the right plays and hitting their
shots. WNCC shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half, including
connecting on 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Casper, in the meantime, struggled
shooting only connecting on 27 percent in the first half and shooting just 11
percent from behind the arc (1 of 9). For the game, Casper shot 29 percent and
were just 3 of 20 from the 3-point area.
After
a back and forth opening where Casper’s Agata Dobrowolska hit a bucket to tie
the game at 6-6, the Cougars then went on that 13-0 run, starting with a
underneath-the-bucket lay-in by Gritt Ryder and concluding with a driving
bucket by Morrill’s Jessica Aratani. Sandwiched in between were Brower’s five
points and Stevens two buckets for a 19-6 lead.
Casper
sliced the lead to six points later on a 3-pointer by Meghan Becker at 21-15,
but WNCC would close out the half on a 16-6 run to lead 37-21 at the break.
WNCC
opened the second half with a 6-0 run behind buckets by Ryder and Stevens, and
a 3-pointer by Brower for a 44-21 lead. Later, with WNCC leading 50-32 after a
Becker 3-pointer, the Cougars would close out the contest outscoring Casper
17-10 for the win.
The
Cougars had four players in double figures. Stevens led the way with 13 points
and nine rebounds. Ryder finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10
rebounds, while Brower popped in 12 points. Jessica Aratani finished with 10
points, while Laurin Rivera and Shalisa Moffit had eight and seven points
respectively.
Casper
was led by Dobrowolska who finished with a double-double of 12 points and 11
rebounds.Taylor Kofoed finished with eight points while Chayanne Balster had
nine.
Casper 21
21 – 42
WNCC 37
30 – 67
CASPER
Shelby Stewart 3, Cheyanne Balster 9, Shelby Garska 4,
Regan Wilson 2, Agata Dobrowolska 12, Taylor Kofoed 8, Marlena Muszak 4.
WNCC
Mikayla Brower 12, Laurin Rivera 8, Kelsey Doddridge 3,
Gritt Ryder 11, Shalisa Moffit 7, Katie Kerkhoff 3, Ashley Stevens 13, Jessica
Aratani 10.
Northwest 64,
Sheridan 59
The
Northwest Trappers put four players in double figures and shot 43 percent from
the field to earn a berth in the semifinals with a 64-59 win over Sheridan
College.
The
Trappers were led by Kennedy Allen with 17 points followed by Savannah Minder
with 11, and Andressa Augusto and Leslie Thronburg with 10 each.
Northwest
held a slim 34-30 lead and then held off Sheridan run that saw the Generals cut
the lead to a single point at 57-56 on a Jasmine Davis bucket. Northwest came
back to nail clutch free throws and get five big points from Andressa Augusto
to get the win.
Sheridan
was led by Milomilo Nanai who finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10
rebounds. Davis also finished with double figures, netting 13 points.
Sheridan 30
29 – 59
NW Wyoming 34
30 – 64
SHERIDAN
Brodie Bennett 8, Jasmine Davis 13, Josie Three Irons 8,
Kayla Kiriau 2, Milomilo Nanai 19, Madison Forney 9.
NORTHWEST
Sierra Williams 2, Savannah Minder 11, Andressa Augusto
10, Kennedy Allen 17, Leslie Thronburg 10, Leanne Winterholler 7, Leslie
Blackburn 2, Imari Simpson 5.
McCook 66, Western
Wyoming 56
The
McCook Community College’s Akia Davis and Shelby Hemmann combined for 41 points
as the Indians earned a berth in the semifinals with a 66-56 win over Western
Wyoming Community College on Tuesday night at Cougar Palace.
Davis
finished with 21 points and pulled down six rebounds. Davis also connected on
two 3-pointers. Hemmann had 20 points, five rebounds and 3-pointer in lifting
the Indians to the victory.
McCook
held strong practically the entire contest as they vaulted to a 36-27 halftime
lead and then played even with the Mustangs in the second half.
Three-point
shooting proved to be the key in the contest. Western Wyoming nailed just one
trey, while McCook buried five 3-pointers. Turnovers were also the difference.
McCook only had 13 turnovers, while the Mustangs had 23.
Western
Wyoming was led by Emily Moore and Shanna Halalilo who each had double-doubles.
Moore had 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Halalilo had 14 points and 11
rebounds. Halalilo also had five assists. Mika Pinner also tossed in 15 points
and pulled down nine rebounds.
Western Wyoming 27
29 – 56
McCook 36
30 – 66
WESTERN WYOMING
Kira Miller 4, Shanna Halalilo 14, Emily Moore 13,
Whitney Mitchell 7, Mika Pinner, Dany Minchow 3.
MCCOOK
Amir Davis 3, Akia Davis 21, Mikaila Newton 4, Tiffani
Lewis 5, Janecia Jenkins 4, Julie Gallegos 7, Shelby Hemmann 20.
Gillette 66, Miles
48
The
Gillette College Pronghorns put four players in double figures and used a strong
second half run to run past Miles Community College 65-48 on Tuesday at the
regional tournament at Western Nebraska Community College.
Gillette
was led by Alicia Carline with 15 points followed by Kiela Garner with 14
points. Also, Kenosha Wright and Halli Stocklin each had 11 points in the win.
The
Pronghorns led 30-29 at halftime and were up 44-37 at one time in the second
half. That was when Gillette outscored the Pioneers 15-4 to earn the win.
Gillette
shot 40 percent from the field and buried 3 of 17 3-pointers. Miles had trouble
finishing a shot all night, shooting 33 percent and were just 23 percent from
the 3-point line.
Gillette
also out rebounded the Pioneers 42-35 and forced 22 Miles turnovers.
Miles
was led in scoring by Ivana Grbic with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Gillette 30
35 – 65
Miles 29
19 – 48
GILLETTE
Halli Stocklin 11, Christina Davis 6, Kiela Garner 14,
Mattison Jolivich 4, Alicia Carline 15, Chelsey Mudgett 3, Kenosha Wright 11,
Freye Newton 1.
MILES
Tess Blaquiere 6, Taylor Lupley 4, Tessa Rouane 6, Janae
Reynen 4, Ivana Grbic 18, Ashely Hildreth 3, Madara Laure 2, Dragana Vokovic 5.
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