TRINIDAD,
Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s and women’s basketball
teams traveled to Trinidad, Colo., and picked up two impressive south subregion
road wins Friday night.
The
Cougar women received 12 points from Ashley Stevens and held Trinidad to just
33 percent shooting and just 3 of 15 from beyond the 3-point arc to register
the 53-49 win.
The
Cougar men had a bigger win, earning a tough-fought 100-97 overtime win over
the Trojans.
WNCC
coach Russ Beck said this is a big win for his squad, who is trying to stay on
pace to host the regional tournament in March.
“Trinidad
is as tough a place to play as anywhere I have coached,” Beck said. “The game
came down to the wire but we went into overtime confident and unified. It was a
great team win. We were aggressive and converted at the free throw line. The
Cougars are focused on getting better one game at a time.”
Trinidad
held a 46-43 lead at halftime. Both teams were back and forth in the second
half. Tied at 86-86 late in regulation, the Cougars had a chance to win the
game but couldn’t convert.
In
the extra period, the Cougars received big buckets from Youssoupha Kane and
clutch free throw shooting to win the game. WNCC held a 99-93 lead in the extra
period, but saw the Trojans claw back to cut the lead to 99-97. Derrick Bowers
then hit one of two free throws with 21 seconds to play. Trinidad had a chance
to tie the game and actually did, but the ball hit the shot clock before going
through the hoop and the Cougars picked up their 15th win of the
season.
WNCC
was outstanding from the free throw line, converting on 38 of 45 free throws
for 84 percent. The home-standing Trojans were just 6 of 10 from the charity
stripe. WNCC also out-rebounded Trinidad 45-44. Brandon Morley had a double-double
of 11 rebounds and 12 points.
Diante
Mitchell led the team in scoring with 25 points, including making 13 of 15 free
throws.
Also
hitting for double figures on the night were Joel Einfeldt with 17 points and
four 3-pointers, Tyler Crosbie with 16 points, and Preston Christensen with 14
points, including going a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line.
The
women’s contest was just as exciting. The WNCC women opened the contest with a
9-2 lead but saw Trinidad come back to tie it at 17-17. WNCC would bounce back
to lead 27-24 at halftime.
In
the second half, WNCC had a 52-40 lead on a Stevens bucket with 4:21 to play
but then saw the Trojans come storming back to slice the lead to 52-49.
Trinidad had a chance to tie the game with 10 seconds to play, but the Trojans
missed a trey and Stevens hauled in the rebound.
Laurin
Rivera was then had an intentional foul and converted one free throw to seal
the win.
The
Cougars pulled down 40 rebounds compared to 32 for Trinidad. Stevens and Lile Havili
each had seven boards. The Cougars also had four blocks, led by Shalisa Moffit
with two.
Havili
also had a double-digit scoring game, finishing with 11 points, while Rivera
and Moffit each had eight points.
The
Cougars will continue the road swing with a subregion contest at Otero Junior
College Saturday afternoon.
Women’s score
WNCC (19-5) 27
26 -- 53
Trinidad 24
25 -- 49
WNCC
Laurin Rivera 8, Shalisa Moffit 8, Abi Lujan 2, Ashley
Stevens 12, Lile Havili 11, Angela Vigil 3, Liz Dogan 4, Kaylee Biddell 3.
Men’s Game
WNCC (15-9) 43
43 14 – 100
Trinidad 46
40 11 – 97
WNCC
Tyler Crosbie 16, Youssoupha Kane 8, DIante Mitchell 25,
Joel Einfeldt 17, Brandon Morley 12, Preston Christensen 14, Derrick Bowers 6,
Julio Guity 2.
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