No. 4 NJC escapes WNCC

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put a little scare into Northeastern Junior College, the No. 4 team in the nation. In the end, the Plainsmen stayed strong, stopping Cougar rallies left and right, to earn a hard-fought 78-71 win Tuesday nigh at Cougar Palace.

“I thought our guys really played hard,” WNCC coach John Jungers said. “The first half we made mental mistakes and for the most part I can’t fault our effort. This is a lesson and it gives us an idea of what it will take to win a regional championship.”

Tuesday night’s contest was a big step for the Cougar men going against a powerhouse and athletic team like NJC, who improved to 26-1 and winners of 19-straight games. WNCC fought hard never giving up despite being down by 18 points at one time cutting the deficit to two points on a DaRon Kirkendoll 3-pointer with five minutes to play in the game.

"I love these kids. We have tremendous sophomore leadership. Matt Akins, Chance, Rick and CJ, they are the heart and soul of our team,” Jungers said. “I am proud of our guys. We just know we have to be better and we will.”

Tuesday night’s contest seemed as if the No. 4 team in the nation was going to run away with the contest a halftime. NJC took a 46-29 lead into the locker room nailing nine 3-pointers in the first half.

WNCC fought back behind a blistering shooting performance where the Cougars out-shot the Plainsmen 44 to 34 percent from the field in the second half, including nailing seven 3-pointers. The difference in the contest was free throw shooting, where NJC was 13 of 28 for the game, while WNCC was a measly 5 of 11.

The Cougars took control early in the second half. CJ Hampton was key for the Cougars nailing three 3-pointers early cutting the lead to 54-49 11.41 to play. NJC went on a mini-run to push the lead back to 12 points at 61-49.

WNCC didn’t get rattled as Beno Jaekel scored four straight points, including a dunk and then Matthew Akins connected on one free throw, followed by Carl Banks making four straight points, including a drive on the baseline for a bucket to slice the lead to 61-58.

NJC’s Shane Edwards came back to hammer home a dunk before Kirkendoll drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to cut the lead to two points, 63-61. WNCC couldn’t get any closer as NJC went on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 11, 72-61.

Again, WNCC wasn’t phased by NJC’s lofty No. 4 ranking battling down to the bitter end as Hampton drained another 3-pointer with 1:07 to play to cut the lead to 74-66. Then, with 4.8 second to play, Chance Wallesen drilled a trey to cut the lead to six points, but it was a little to late.

Hampton led all scorers with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Keron McKenzie and Ricardo De Bem also finished with double digits with 11 and 10 points.

NJC was led by Mike Dominguez with 20 points, followed by Omar Leary with 16, Shane Edwards with 13 and Troy Smith with 12.

WNCC will wrap up the regular season with a contest Friday at Otero Junior College before hosting the Region IX men’s tournament, which begins March 3 through the 7.

NJC (26-1) 46 32 – 78
WNCC (11-16) 29 42 – 71

NORTHEASTERN COLORADO
Achigbo Ameh 1, Omar Leary 16, Rashad Austin 7, LaTravis Turner 7, Troy Smith 12, Jarvis Jackson 2, Shane Edwards 13, Mike Dominguez 20.

WESTERN NEBRASKA
Keron McKenzie 11, Chance Wallesen 8, Beno Jaekel 4, Matthew Akins 5, Carl Buck 6, CJ Hampton 22, DaRon Kirkendoll 5, Ricardo De Bem 10.