Six Cougar soccer players make all-region

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team placed six players on the Region IX soccer team for the past season. The Cougars had three players on the first team and three players on the second team.

Earning first team honors for the 8-10 Cougar men were sophomores Steven Estrada for defense, sophomore Edwin Enriques as a mid-fielder, and sophomore Eloy Matos as a forward.

WNCC members earning second team honors include freshman Cesar Bazana as a goalkeeper, freshman Shayne Tower for defense, and freshman Chris Thompson as a mid-fielder.
Tower and Thompson graduated from area high schools. Tower played for Scottsbluff, while Thompson played at Gering.

The complete all-region teams include:
1st Team All-Region IX
Keeper - Rodney Chiweshe - LCCC
Defense - Anthony Baldi - LCCC
Defense - Stephen Estrada - Western Nebraska
Defense - Nic Gonzalez - Western Wyoming
Defense - Ryan Harper - LCCC
Midfield - Jose Arenas - LCCC
Midfield - Conrrado Deniz - LCCC
Midfield - Edwin Enriquez - Western Nebraska
Midfield - Eric Nieters - Western Wyoming
Forward - Eloy Matos - Western Nebraska
Forward - Dennis Sellis - Western Wyoming
2nd Team All-Region IX
Keeper - Cesar Bazana - Western Nebraska
Defense - Matt Kolar - Western Wyoming
Defense - Carlos Saenz - LCCC
Defense - Sam Taylor - Western Wyoming
Defense - Shayne Tower - Western Nebraska
Midfield - Romeo Kabanda - LCCC
Midfield - Chris Thompson - Western Nebraska
Midfield - Chance Trotter - Western Wyoming
Midfield - Chad Zueck - Western Wyoming
Forward - Jordan Byrum - LCCC
Forward - Derek Stewart - Western Wyoming

Top 10 Cougar Events of 2007

What a 2007 for Western Nebraska Community College athletes. The Cougars have seen it all from a first-ever national championship, two Region IX champions, a Major League baseball signing and plenty of winning successes in all seven sports.

As one looks back at 2007 . From a first national championship to first regional championship, there were plenty of highlights from the past year as we venture into 2008.

So, what were biggest memories at the college in the past year? Well, here are the top 10 events that stood out this past year.

10) The WNCC men’s soccer team also had a nice season earning the most wins, eight, in school history since the programs first year in 2003. The team had some fantastic finishes at the end of the season, defeating Garden City in double overtime 3-1 before defeating Western Wyoming 1-0 in the last minute of the regional playoffs.

9) This is a fitting place to put the Cougar volleyball team’s ninth Region IX title in nine years just because of all the nines. Plus, there will be even bigger events to come on the list for the volleyball team later on. But if one looks at it this way, if the Cougars would not have won their ninth straight regional title, they wouldn’t be national champions. Anyway, was there any doubt that they wouldn’t win. This team went through regionals winning all three matches, defeating Lamar and then Northeastern Junior College twice without dropping one game. And they did it without Region IX Libero of the Year Nayka Benitez, who was hospitalized with a kidney infection.

8) When WNCC hired men’s basketball coach Brian Joyce in May, they were looking for someone to bring back that winning tradition that WNCC once had. Joyce had plenty of success at Northeastern Junior College before coming to WNCC and brings plenty of excitement. So far this year, though, the team is just 9-7, but look for good things in 2008 and many years to come.

7) The WNCC women’s basketball team put together another top season finishing the season at 27-2. The team went through the regular season with just one loss, falling to Casper on the road. They then lost out on a chance to host regionals by beating Casper at Cougar Palace by four points, which pushed the regional tourney to Casper. WNCC then lost to Casper title game which ended its four-year hold on the championship.

6) The WNCC women’s soccer team is back after being suspended in 2005. Yes, this fall, the women’s team finished with double-figure wins, claiming 10 victories on the season (10-7-2) before falling to nationally-ranked LCCC in the regional title game. It was only the second time in school history that the team earned double-digit wins – the first year was 2003 when they went 19-1. The Cougar women outscored their opponents 58-48, while playing much of the season with a team that resembled a MASH unit. These girls hung tough and put together a nice season, including winning three in a row twice.

5) Soriana Pacheco became only the second player in school history to be a national player of the year after leading the Cougar volleyball team to the national championship. Pacheco, a sophomore who is headed to Kansas State University, was tabbed the AVCA junior college player of the year. She also earned NJCAA first team all-American honors for a second straight year, made the NJCAA all-tournament team for a second straight year, was a Region IX all-region and all-tournament selection, and set a couple of school records in the process. The last time a Cougar athlete was player of they year was in 1995 when Bernard Garner was NJCAA men’s basketball player of the year after helping the team to a third place finish at nationals. Pacheco was also tabbed the Omaha World Herald Nebraska Junior College captain of the all-Nebraska JUCO team that was announced last week.

4) WNCC sophomore Phillips Orta signs with the New York Mets. Yes, Orta signed a six-figure contract with Major League Baseball’s Mets. He reported to the minor leagues shortly after signing and is in process of moving up the farm-system ranks. Orta spent two seasons at WNCC after being drafted by the Mets after his freshman year.

3) The WNCC softball team has been taking steps to getting that first regional title. Last May, this freshman-dominated team almost achieved that goal before falling to Otero Junior College in the if-necessary game of the Region IX tournament. Yes, the if-necessary game, as WNCC fought back through the loser’s bracket and defeated Otero, which was the first time they have defeated the Rattlers at regionals, to force the extra game. The team finished with a school record 36-21 and had several all-region players. Jessica Ventoza also signed with Division 1 Washington over the summer.

2) WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones came to WNCC in 2001 to start up a baseball program. It took just six seasons before the Cougars brought home a Region IX title in May as they beat Trinidad State Junior College in two championship games. The team then hosted the district tournament, in which they fell to Central Arizona College and Western Nevada Community College (the other WNCC) to finish the season at 30-29. It was a banner year for Cougar baseball with a regional title and a player that signed a major league contract.

1) National Championship. Of course this has to be No. 1 because the Cougars are now No. 1 in the country. The Cougar volleyball team, behind ninth-year head coach Chris Green, brought home the schools first national title in November with a four-game win over Miami Dade College. Many of the players said that one of the reasons they won the title was because they did not have one easy match at nationals and knew what it took to win. Take the semi-final match against Salt Lake Community College. The Cougar fans thought the team was beat. Even some of the Cougar players thought so. But, this band of champions came back. Down by a score of 18-10 in the second game, they fought back to win that game 31-29. They then won games four and five 30-24 and 15-12 to earn their second trip into the national championship game. The team then went on to take down national power Miami Dade College, a team that has won nine national titles, by the scores of 30-27, 30-24, 21-30, 30-22. The team placed three players on the all-tournament team in Aida Bauza, Soriana Pacheco and Fatima Balza. Bauza was also tabbed the tournament’s MVP, while coach Chris Green was the coach of the tournament.

McNabb signs early with Northern Colorado, looking forward to sophomore season at WNCC

It is hard to think about playing softball when there is five inches of snow on the ground and the temperature is barely above freezing. But for Western Nebraska Community College sophomore Jessie McNabb, her softball thoughts have continued through the winter months in trying to figure out a college choice after this year.

Well, the shortstop from Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada, didn’t look far as she inked with Division I the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

“I choose Northern Colorado because it is not that farther from home and I still can drive to school,” McNabb said. “Also, my parents still can come and see me as well as I like the coaches a lot.”

McNabb had tons of colleges trying to land WNCC’s talented infielder, who earned all-region honors last year as a freshman while setting four school records. McNabb had looks from West Virginia Wesleyan, Wingate University, as well as other schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

McNabb could have held out until after the season to sign, hoping for a bigger school, but she was satisfied with UNC. Plus, with that decision out of her mind, she can concentrate on her sophomore season at WNCC.

“I am glad it is done with because now I can focus on my playing,” she said about signing early. “I was actually talking to the coaches and they seemed really nice and told me that if I work hard, I should get to play.”

UNC, a smaller Division I university, finished last season with a 10-39 record. This season, the Bears play many top Division I teams, including four games against Nebraska. UNC will also host WNCC on April 8 in a doubleheader.

Besides McNabb, UNC coach Jennifer Schunke also announced three other signings. They include Erin Geddis of Mead, Colo., and Alexandra Neely and Erin Wilkinson of Windsor, Colo.

Schunke is pleased to get an athlete of McNabb’s talents in her program.

“Jessie will bring some maturity to our program next year," said Schunke. "She is a leader in all that she does; she just does so very quietly. She was a tremendous find for us and we can't wait to have her here."

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff expects McNabb to contribute to the Bears’ team.

“She is very versatile and she will be an impact player for them next year,” she said. “She is very coachable. She is a good kid, good student and she will be missed when she leaves. I hope she has another year [this spring] like she had last year.”

At WNCC last season, McNabb set the school records for most doubles in a season (23), most RBIs in a season (61), career doubles (23) and career triples (9). The 5-foot-6 Region IX academic all-American also batted .522 on the season (second best all-time) and finished with 57 singles and six home runs. She also scored 62 runs for the 36-21 Cougars.

McNabb said that she didn’t know what to expect during her freshman year as far as her hitting success, but is pleased with the outcome.

“The records just came,” she said. “I really wasn’t looking at breaking anything. It just happened. Hopefully I can do it again this year.”

But one of the reasons for McNabb’s success is because of Winn-Ratliffs’ softball knowledge and her willingness to help her players succeed off and on the field.

“She is the one that got me in contact with all the schools,” she said. “She also told me about these schools and coaches. The UNC coach is one of her friends.”

Winn-Ratliff said that she has made great strides in her year and a half here so far.

“Defensively, when she came here we looked at her as being a third baseman and then we moved her to shortstop,” she said. “Offensively, she could hit before she came here, but since coming here she has learned from our hitting style and has improved her offense.”

McNabb is grateful for Winn-Ratliff’s help in improving her softball skills.

“I have improved them [softball skills] a lot,” she said. “I have never been taught how to hit before or do anything. I came here and she taught me to hit her way and it seems to be working.”

McNabb also never dreamed of playing Division I softball while playing in Canada. Now, she said it is a bonus to coming to WNCC.

McNabb is the second player in two years to sign with a Division I college. Last year, Jessica Ventoza signed with the University of Washington. In Winn-Ratliff’s three seasons at WNCC, McNabb will be the 10^th player to go on to play college softball at a four-year university.

McNabb and the rest of her Cougar team will begin practicing for the spring season when they come back to classes Jan. 14. WNCC’s first contests are slated for Feb. 7-10 when they travel to Texas for games. One of McNabb’s goals this year is to bring home a regional title to Scottsbluff.

“It will take a lot of teamwork and everybody coming together to work as a team,” she said.

Last season the Cougar team came within one game of bringing home the regional title, falling to Otero Junior College in the if necessary game of the regional tournament. McNabb said that success is a good sign for this year.

“It was nice to beat them at regionals and it is a big bonus for this year knowing that we are capable of beating them,” she said. “We just have to play good.”

Laramie County nips Western Nebraska in action 71-70

Western Nebraska Community College’s Kelvin Franklin’s 20 first half points, including four 3-pointers, wasn’t enough to carry the Cougars into the holiday break with a win.

In turn, it was the Cougars inconsistency and turnovers down the stretch that gave the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles their third win of the season with a 71-70 come-from-behind victory Friday night.

For the Cougars, they limp into the holiday break on a sour note after just shooting 34 percent in the second half compared to 53 percent first half shooting. WNCC coach Brian Joyce said he takes some of the blame for the Cougars 9-7 first half record.

“We played with some passion in some certain stretches, but we didn’t consistently. Obviously I did a poor job the first semester in instilling that in the guys and I have to a better job with that,” Joyce said. “We have good enough pieces to be a better team then what we are and I have to do a better job of putting those pieces in the right positions to be successful and to get guys to play with more energy.”

WNCC, though, fought hard. In the first half they were double digits for much of the first half. The Cougars, with about three minutes to play in the half, were down 36-24 after Greg Jones buried a trey.

WNCC vaulted back into the contest thanks to the outside shooting of Franklin, who buried three straight 3-pointers to put the Cougars up for the first time in the game with 45 seconds to play at 39-38. Jamie Eisinger then followed with a basket at the buzzer to put the Cougars up 41-38 at the break.

Joyce said they played hard in the first half to come back in the second half and he is proud of his team for that. But, the way they ended was not a pleasant sight.

“We fought hard to get there [the halftime lead]. We got the lead and then we gave it back. It has been a sign of this team,” he said. “It is just not that consistency there that I like.”

In the second half, though, WNCC had lead of seven points on several occasions, including a 61-54 lead after two back-to-back Daniel Smith buckets with eight minutes to play.

LCCC came storming back tying the game at 65 with 4:12 to play on a Bret Barnes trey. The Golden Eagles clawed their way back on top with 2:34 to play on another Barnes 3-pointer at 68-67.

WNCC had plenty of opportunity down the stretch, including three trips down the court with under a minute to play. But each time, the Cougars misfired turning the ball over in crucial times.

“We are playing very inconsistent and you wish you can blame it on a new team and being young, but the truth is we have played 16 games now and by that time guys need to settle in and be more consistent,” Joyce said. “At the break, we will watch a lot of tape and really analyze where we are at and what we need to improve on and hopefully when guys get back in a couple weeks we will do a better job.

LCCC’s main weapon in the win was their accurate outside shooting, hitting 10 of 15 3-pointers for 66.7 percent. Jones had the hot hand burying eight treys for a game-high 31 points.

WNCC shot a dismal 26 percent from behind the arc (5 of 19). Franklin led the way with four treys and 20 points, all in the first half.

The Cougars also put three other players in double figures as Smith finished with 15 points followed by Eisinger with 12 and Deividas Busma with 10. Busma also collected 15 rebounds for a double-double.

WNCC, 9-7, will be off until Jan. 9 when they host McCook Community College in a sub-region contest in a men’s and women’s doubleheader.

“This is a time of the year that is really difficult for anybody because guys are focusing on going home and this semester has been a challenge for everybody because you have so many new guys that are learning what you want and the transition from high school to college,” Joyce said. “But like I said, there is no excuse for us not doing a good job down the stretch.”

LCCC (3-8) 38 33 – 71
WNCC (9-7) 41 29 -- 70
LARAMIE COUNTY
Colby Batiste 5, Travis Bostick 10, Dionte’ Clayborn 11, Bret Barnes 6, Greg Jones 31, Odiouma Samake 8.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Jamie Eisinger 12, Daniel Smith 15, Kelvin Franklin 20, Lloyd Hickinson 2, Drew Eisinger 3, Deividas Busma 10, Chris Hamblin 4, Doradji Wilson 4.

WNCC's Pacheco named AVCA JUCO Player of the Year

Western Nebraska Community College’s Soriana Pacheco isn’t much for individual honors, but the 5-foot-10 sophomore setter earned one of the biggest honors Saturday by being named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year.

“When coach [Chris Green] told me, I didn’t expect this award because I just do my best,” Pacheco said. “It really wasn’t for me alone, it was more for my team and my coaches. During the whole season, I never thought about getting individual honors. I was just playing and doing the best I can all the time.”

Pacheco was the quarterback of a Cougar team that won the school’s first national title Nov. 17 in a 4-game win over Miami Dade College. A few weeks later, Pacheco garnered her second straight NJCAA first team All-American honor. Now, Pacheco has been tabbed the AVCA player of the year.

Pacheco, who set a school record with most ace serves in a season, said that her number one goal this season was to win a national championship, nothing else. She achieved that one goal and as added many other national honors on top of that.

“I like the honor [of player of they year and also the national championship], but it is not just for me,” she said. “I am happy and it is important to happen at WNCC, but I am most happy for my coach because he really wanted to be a national champion. During the season, he was talking to me all the time, saying ‘Sori, I trust you to lead the team.’ I played for my team and for me, but the big thing was for my coach because he really deserved this honor.”

Pacheco is the second Cougar athlete to receive a Player of the Year honor. Bernard Garner was tabbed Player of the Year in 1995 when he helped lead the men’s basketball team to a third place finish at the national tournament.

WNCC coach Chris Green said with everything that this team has accomplished this season, this is great for the program because Pacheco was a driving force that helped lead the team to the national title.

“She is a competitor and I think she has always played well in big games,” Green said. “Her relaxed demeanor allowed our team to just keep fighting, keep working as a team, and allowed us to come from behind for the win.

“Sori does not show a lot of emotion on the court, but deep down she is very competitive. Her decisions on the court were usually good ones. She really did put the team ahead of herself as far as getting the job done.”

Pacheco was also selected as a first-team AVCA All-American. Pacheco’s teammate Jennifer Eichler, who she sat several times this season, earned AVCA and NJCAA second-team All-American honors. Fatima Balza also earned honorable mention NJCAA All-American honors.

Green said it will be tough to replace an athlete like Pacheco next season.

“She is very deceptive, keeping the opposing blockers guessing,” he said. “She also gets the ball to her hitters quickly, which allows us to run a quicker offense. She is a very strong setter, being able to push the ball across the court with ease.

“We will have a hard time replacing Soriana. We will look for a setter who can do some of the things Soriana has done. We do have one setter recruited along with a setter/hitter.”

Pacheco will head to Kansas State for the next two years and she is going there with the same mind frame that she had here – win as a team.

“I don’t expect anything right now because I am going to do my best at Kansas State like I did at WNCC,” she said. “Right now I am not going there thinking I have to be an all-American. I am just going to play.”

This is Pacheco’s second player of the year honor. She earned her first one in 2004 on the Venezuelan National Team when she was named the best setter in the whole country in the South America championships.

The awards will be presented at a banquet next week, but because Pacheco is slated to head back to Venezuela on Thursday, Green will attend the convention and receive the honor for her. The AVCA even tried to switch her plane tickets, but couldn’t manage to it.

WNCC's Green named AVCA West Region Coach of the Year

Western Nebraska Community College’s Soriana Pacheco isn’t the only Cougar to achieve national honors. Cougar coach Chris Green was also honored by his coaching mentors earning a regional coach of the year honor by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Green and Salt Lake Community College coach Shay Goulding earned West Coaches of the Year. The national coach of the year went to NJCAA Division III Central Lakes College coach Jane Peterson, who won the school’s third national title in eight seasons.

Green said that it is an honor to be selected as a regional coach of the year by his peers.

“It is an honor because there are many good coaches in junior college,” he said,
“so it always feels good to be selected.”

Green coached the Cougar volleyball team to a 54-2 record and the college’s first national title with a four-game win over Miami Dade College. WNCC’s success this season came after the team finished runner-up a year ago.

In his nine years at WNCC, Green has led the Cougars to nine Region IX titles, five national semi-final appearances and 453 wins. This is Green’s third consecutive AVCA West Region Coach of the Year award and his fourth overall.

Green, though, has always been a part of winning every since his first head coaching stint at Gering High School in 1995. Green was fresh out of college and was coaching in the place of Craig Schadwinkel, who was taking a sabbatical. That season, the Bulldogs competed in Class A that season, and Green said that was a great opportunity for him.

“I learned a lot from the experience and it made me a better coach when I went on to Battle Creek,” he said. “I still see some of the players from when I coached at Gering. Becky Zwickle (Kelly) for example was a sophomore on that team. It was a great opportunity for me.”

Green actually never thought he would achieve this kind of success during his coaching tenure.

“I have never have looked into the future much,” he said. “I try to set goals for myself and the team yearly, but I think it is important to try to keep focused in the immediate future and not think to far ahead. It has been enjoyable everywhere I have coached, from Gering to Battle Creek to Kauai, Hawaii, high school to WNCC.”

Green has also learned from the best among the coaching ranks, including ex-Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Petit and ex-BYU men’s coach Carl McGown.

“I have taken some things from several coaches around the country, including Terry Petite and his ‘progressions’ in the teaching individual skills, and also Carl McGown and his methods of teaching competitiveness and teaching what comes natural to the volleyball player as an athlete.”

Green said that he is not sure of what is next on the ladder of achievements. All he knows is that he doesn’t want a let down.

“Hopefully we can continue this success at WNCC and try for another championship next season,” he said.

Staying on top, though, won’t be easy, especially for a Cougar team that losses six sophomores – Soriana Pacheco and Jennifer Eichler, who are headed to Division I next season, Kendra Schauermann, Shawntell Jones, Stacie Meisner and Cassie Vrooman. Chelsea Lyles also may not come back if she elects to play basketball at a four-year school.

Among the returners for the Cougars, though, is national tournament MVP Aida Bauza, national tournament top server Nayka Benitez, national tournament all-tournament performer Fatima Balza. So the cupboard isn’t bare by any means.

“There were many great teams in JUCO this season and they all will also have that goal of competing for and winning a national championship,” he said. “So, obviously, it will be very tough to repeat.”

WNCC men defeat EWC alumni 100-80

The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team got back on the winning side with an 100-80 win over the EWC alumni Saturday night in the Region IX Classic.

The Cougars, who led 46-35 at halftime. WNCC was led byy Kelvin Franklin with 22 points and Jamie Eisinger with 16.

WNCC, now 9-6 on the year, will finish off the first semester on Friday when they host Laramie County Community at 7 p.m.

WNCC women claim ninth straight win with 51-37 win over Air Force Prep

The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team has always been strong defensively.

Saturday afternoon, it was that strong defensive play, especially in the last five minutes of the game, to lift the Cougars to a 51-37 win over Air Force Prep in the final day of the Lady Cougar Holiday Classic for the team’s ninth straight win.

“We had to play strong defensively in the second half because we had to change the pace of the game,” WNCC coach Dave Harnish said. “We weren’t doing much offensively and defensively we did stay in the game in the first half. We tried to change the tempo of the game, which I thought helped in the second half and try to create some turnovers and easy buckets because we weren’t shooting the ball well from the perimeter. Eventually it worked. We got some lay ups and finally built the lead there at the end.”

In other action in the tournament, Colby Community College out-shot Eastern Wyoming College 11-9 from the 3-point arc for an 84-67 win. The Lancers will have one more game left before break when they host Lamar Community College Monday at 6 p.m.

WNCC’s win, however, was not the way Harnish wanted to send his team into the holiday break. Still, the Cougars are 13-3 on the season and that is a positive for this year’s team.

“Today is a disappointment of finishing off the first semester playing at home and not playing with a lot of intensity. For some reason this team doesn’t play every night. They pick and choose games and we can’t get them to stay focused and play night in and night out and solid every night.”

Saturday’s contest was nothing to right home about offensively for both teams. WNCC shot 32 percent from the field and 11 percent from beyond the arc. Air Force Prep was a touch better, shooting 34 percent from the field and 15 percent from the arc.

The difference in the game was a defensive spurt with six minutes to go that allowed WNCC go on a 16-2 run to get the win.

During the run, Shaquilah Davis led the charge with eight points and three steals. But, it wasn’t just Davis that turned up the heat defensively. Alison Cheney delivered a nice pass to Chelsea Lyles for an old-fashioned 3-point play to put WNCC up 41-35.

Lyles finished off the scoring by delivering back-to-back assists to Davis and Tawny Drexler for the win.

Lyles led the team with 13 points and seven rebounds. She also had three assists and two steals, while shooting 4 of 5 from the charity stripe. Davis also finished with 10 points on the night – eight in the last six minutes. Davis also had three steals on the night.

Jenna Colwell also had a nice night early, scoring eight points. In fact, it was Colwell’s bucket with about 12 minutes to play that gave WNCC the lead for good in the second have at 30-28.

While the Cougar offense struggled, the EWC offense was hitting shots. The Lancers finished the night shooting 36 percent from the field, but they connected on nine 3-pointers. Skye Smith led the charge with 20 points, including three 3-pointers. Jaqi Bell also connected on three 3-pointers to finish with 16 points.

Colby, though, was just a tad sharper offensively, shooting 43 percent from the field and tallying 11 3-pointers. Most of the Trojans damage happened midway in the first half when they opened up a tight game to lead 47-33 at intermission.

“It basically was that their offense was hitting threes and when they weren’t hitting threes, they were dumping off the ball to the inside with the advantage they had on some of our guards,” EWC coach Tom Andersen said. “They [Colby] played well. They shot the ball really well, but I think our kids played a lot harder then they did the other night. We had a good effort, but we just game up short.”

Andersen said that first-half spurt was definitely the key stretch in the game.

“Early in the first half when they got the lead and stretched it out a bit, we made a few mistakes and they took advantage of it,” he said. “The second half was a pretty good battle back and forth. We would make a little run at them and then they would make a little run and get it back up to 15. Then we would get it back down and then they would get it back up. I liked the effort our kids put out. We obviously have to take care of a few mistakes, but we are getting better.”

EWC (3-9) 33 34 -- 67

Colby CC 47 37 – 84

EASTERN WYOMING

Kera Bretney 4, Cecily Zarate 4, Stacie Folker 9, Jessica Martinez 3, Candace Mitchell 4, Sheila Reece 4, Nicole Moody 3, Skye Smith 20, Jaqi Bell 16.

COLBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Molly Phelan 6, Lucia Puchelova 2, Jazmine Murray 9, Katie Spresser 5, Jessi Hilliard 2, Lauren Fortin 7, Nikki Welsh 17, Sandra Sormaz 15, Whitney Archer 17, Samantha Ciani 4.

Air Force Prep 19 18 – 37

WNCC (13-3) 19 32 – 51

AIR FORCE PREP

Claire Brown 4, Jamela Satterfield 5, Jackie First 10, Kira Gonzalez 6, Tiffany Mckinney 6, Kati Islam 4, Fallynne Henderson 2.

WESTERN NEBRASKA CC

Cheri Palmer 3, Dana Iverson 4, Emma Beddome 2, SeLina Ysac 2, Shaquilah Davis 10, Alison Cheney 6, Tawny Drexler 3, Chelsea Lyles 13.

The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team has always been strong defensively.

Saturday afternoon, it was that strong defensive play, especially in the last five minutes of the game, to lift the Cougars to a 51-37 win over Air Force Prep in the final day of the Lady Cougar Holiday Classic for the team’s ninth straight win.

“We had to play strong defensively in the second half because we had to change the pace of the game,” WNCC coach Dave Harnish said. “We weren’t doing much offensively and defensively we did stay in the game in the first half. We tried to change the tempo of the game, which I thought helped in the second half and try to create some turnovers and easy buckets because we weren’t shooting the ball well from the perimeter. Eventually it worked. We got some lay ups and finally built the lead there at the end.”

In other action in the tournament, Colby Community College out-shot Eastern Wyoming College 11-9 from the 3-point arc for an 84-67 win. The Lancers will have one more game left before break when they host Lamar Community College Monday at 6 p.m.

WNCC’s win, however, was not the way Harnish wanted to send his team into the holiday break. Still, the Cougars are 13-3 on the season and that is a positive for this year’s team.

“Today is a disappointment of finishing off the first semester playing at home and not playing with a lot of intensity. For some reason this team doesn’t play every night. They pick and choose games and we can’t get them to stay focused and play night in and night out and solid every night.”

Saturday’s contest was nothing to right home about offensively for both teams. WNCC shot 32 percent from the field and 11 percent from beyond the arc. Air Force Prep was a touch better, shooting 34 percent from the field and 15 percent from the arc.

The difference in the game was a defensive spurt with six minutes to go that allowed WNCC go on a 16-2 run to get the win.

During the run, Shaquilah Davis led the charge with eight points and three steals. But, it wasn’t just Davis that turned up the heat defensively. Alison Cheney delivered a nice pass to Chelsea Lyles for an old-fashioned 3-point play to put WNCC up 41-35.

Lyles finished off the scoring by delivering back-to-back assists to Davis and Tawny Drexler for the win.

Lyles led the team with 13 points and seven rebounds. She also had three assists and two steals, while shooting 4 of 5 from the charity stripe. Davis also finished with 10 points on the night – eight in the last six minutes. Davis also had three steals on the night.

Jenna Colwell also had a nice night early, scoring eight points. In fact, it was Colwell’s bucket with about 12 minutes to play that gave WNCC the lead for good in the second have at 30-28.

While the Cougar offense struggled, the EWC offense was hitting shots. The Lancers finished the night shooting 36 percent from the field, but they connected on nine 3-pointers. Skye Smith led the charge with 20 points, including three 3-pointers. Jaqi Bell also connected on three 3-pointers to finish with 16 points.

Colby, though, was just a tad sharper offensively, shooting 43 percent from the field and tallying 11 3-pointers. Most of the Trojans damage happened midway in the first half when they opened up a tight game to lead 47-33 at intermission.

“It basically was that their offense was hitting threes and when they weren’t hitting threes, they were dumping off the ball to the inside with the advantage they had on some of our guards,” EWC coach Tom Andersen said. “They [Colby] played well. They shot the ball really well, but I think our kids played a lot harder then they did the other night. We had a good effort, but we just game up short.”

Andersen said that first-half spurt was definitely the key stretch in the game.

“Early in the first half when they got the lead and stretched it out a bit, we made a few mistakes and they took advantage of it,” he said. “The second half was a pretty good battle back and forth. We would make a little run at them and then they would make a little run and get it back up to 15. Then we would get it back down and then they would get it back up. I liked the effort our kids put out. We obviously have to take care of a few mistakes, but we are getting better.”

EWC (3-9) 33 34 -- 67

Colby CC 47 37 – 84

EASTERN WYOMING

Kera Bretney 4, Cecily Zarate 4, Stacie Folker 9, Jessica Martinez 3, Candace Mitchell 4, Sheila Reece 4, Nicole Moody 3, Skye Smith 20, Jaqi Bell 16.

COLBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Molly Phelan 6, Lucia Puchelova 2, Jazmine Murray 9, Katie Spresser 5, Jessi Hilliard 2, Lauren Fortin 7, Nikki Welsh 17, Sandra Sormaz 15, Whitney Archer 17, Samantha Ciani 4.

Air Force Prep 19 18 – 37

WNCC (13-3) 19 32 – 51

AIR FORCE PREP

Claire Brown 4, Jamela Satterfield 5, Jackie First 10, Kira Gonzalez 6, Tiffany Mckinney 6, Kati Islam 4, Fallynne Henderson 2.

WESTERN NEBRASKA CC

Cheri Palmer 3, Dana Iverson 4, Emma Beddome 2, SeLina Ysac 2, Shaquilah Davis 10, Alison Cheney 6, Tawny Drexler 3, Chelsea Lyles 13.

WNCC women defeat Colby for eighth straight win

Friday morning, Western Nebraska Community College’s Chelsea Lyles and the rest of the Cougar volleyball team were made admirals of the Navy by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman.

Friday night, Lyles became the admiral on the court as she poured in 18 points, six rebounds and 4 of 5 shooting from the free throw line to lead the Cougars to their eighth straight win with a 66-44 win over Colby Community College in the second day of the Lady Cougar Holiday Classic.

“It was nice meeting the governor this morning. Being an admiral in Nebraska is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was amazing. It was a wonderful feeling,” Lyles said. “Then, to come out here and play well [later in the evening] it is great and I liked it.”

In other action on the day, Air Force Prep fought back from a 34-24 halftime deficit to claim a 63-56 over Eastern Wyoming College.

Action continues today with Eastern Wyoming facing Colby at 1 p.m. followed by WNCC taking on Air Force Prep at 3 p.m.

Lyles said the difference in their game was the second half, where the Cougars’ defense held Colby to just 16 points, including just 10 points through the first 15 minutes.

“The difference was we stopped their 3-point shooting and our press was a lot better,” the 6-foot two-sport star said. “We trapped and got after them harder and we put a lot more pressure on them. We really slowed down their shooters in the second half and that made a big difference. That is what they depend on their 3-point shot.”

Early on, though, both teams were involved in a defensive showdown. With 8:39 to play, Dana Iverson scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer. Colby rebounded grabbing a 23-19 lead on a Sandra Sormaz 3-pointer. That was when Lyles took charge, scoring 12 of the Cougars next 14 points for a 34-28 halftime lead.

WNCC had just two players in double figures. Besides Lyles, Iverson finished with 14 points, including two 3-pointers. Colby was paced by Sormaz with 12 points.

In the earlier game, EWC and Air Force Prep were also in a defensive battle as the Lancers’ Shealyn Wells nailed a 3-pointer with 8:40 left in the first half to tied the game at 15. The Lancers’ offense continued excelling as Skye Smith nailed a 3-pointer to give EWC a 34-24 halftime lead.

The Lancers couldn’t hold the lead in the second half as the Huskies scored 39 points and shot 57 percent from the field to EWC’s 34 percent to get the win.

EWC had two players in double figures, led by Smith with 15 points and Jaqi Bell with 14. Air Force Prep was led by Kira Gonzalez with 22 points.

EWC (3-8) 34 22 – 56
Air Force Prep 24 39 – 63
EASTERN WYOMING
Kera Bretney 8, Shealyn Wells 6, Stacie Folker 6, Jessica Martinez 6, Nicole Moody 2, Skye Smith 15, Jaqi Bell 14.
AIR FORCE PREP
Jamela Satterfield 10, Jackie First 7, Kira Gonzalez 22, Tiffany McKinney 8, Kati Isham 11, Fallyanne Henderson 5.

Colby CC 28 16 – 44
WNCC (9-3) 34 32 – 66
COLBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Molly Phelan 2, Lucie Puchelova 2, Erin Goodhue 2, Jazmine Murray 1, Katie Spresser 3, Lauren Fortin 2, Nikki Welsh 8, Sandra Sormaz 12, Whitney Archer 8, Samantha Ciani 4.
WESTERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Cheri Palmer 6, Dana Iverson 14, Emma Beddome 9, Michelle Lighthall 2, SeLina Ysac 1, Alison Cheney 8, Jenna Colwell 6, Chelsea Lyles 18, Carly Glisan 2.

Dec. 7 proclaimed Cougar Volleyball Day by Gov. Heineman

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman recognized the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team’s National Championship by declaring Dec. 7, 2007, as Cougar Volleyball Day in a Friday morning presentation at the Gering Civic Center.

Gov. Heineman said, in the proclamation, that “The State of Nebraska takes great pride in the academic and athletic endeavors of Western Nebraska Community College; and where as, The citizens of Nebraska enjoy the high quality sportsmanship and competition of collegiate volleyball; and whereas, The Western Nebraska Community College Cougars have competed for conference, regional and national championships and played NJCAA volleyball at the highest level; and whereas, These young women are an inspiration to young people across our great state; and where as, The Cougars volleyball team represents the ideals of NJCAA athletics by balancing high academic success with superior athletic dedication; and where as, The Cougars dominated the 2007 volleyball season from start to finish, winning the NJCAA National Championship Match. Now, therefore, I, Dave Heineman, Governor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2007, as Cougar Volleyball Day in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.”

Heineman, later in the morning breakfast, said he now can claim two National volleyball teams since the University of Nebraska claimed the title last season.

The Cougars won the college’s first national title on Nov. 17 when they defeated Miami Dade College in four games. Nebraska Senator John Harms noted during the breakfast that he has had the pleasure of watching the volleyball program build to a national power and said that it is great satisfaction to now that they won the title by beating Miami Dade, who has a student enrollment of 30,000.

Gov. Heineman also presented each player and coach as an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.

The Cougars will continue “Cougar Volleyball Day” later today when they will be honored at halftime of the WNCC and Colby women’s basketball game, which begins at 7 p.m. During the ceremony, the team will be available for autographs and posters and T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Colby defeats Air Force Prep in day one of Lady Cougar Holiday Classic

The first day of the Lady Cougar Holiday Classic is in the books as Colby Community College overcame 33-30 halftime deficit to claim a 67-50 win over Air Force Prep Thursday at Cougar Palace.

Action continues today and Saturday in the tournament. Today’s schedule pits Eastern Wyoming College against Air Force Prep at 5 p.m. followed by the Western Nebraska Community College Cougar women taking on Colby at 7 p.m.
Also on tab tonight will be a celebration for the Cougar women’s volleyball at halftime of the WNCC game. The volleyball team will also be available for autographs as well as T-shirts and posters will be available for purchase.

In Thursday’s contest, Colby put three players in double figures, getting 20 points each from Sandra Sormaz and Whitney Archer for the win. Lauren Fortin also had 13 points for the Trojans.

Air Force Prep, who shot 45 percent from the field in the first half before shooting just 25 percent in the second half, was paced by Jackie First’s 22 points. Kira Gonzalez also finished with 12 points for the Huskies.

Action in the Classic concludes Saturday with games at 1 and 3 p.m.

Air Force Prep 33 17 – 50
Colby C.C. 30 37 – 67
AIR FORCE PREP
Jamela Satterfield 3, Jackie First 22, Kira Gonzalez 12, Tiffany McKinney 2, Kati Isham 9, Fallynne Henderson 2.
COLBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Molly Phelan 2, Jazmine Murray 2, Jessi Hilliard 4, Lauren Fortin 13, Nikki Welsh 2, Sandra Sormaz 20, Whitney Archer 20, Samantha Ciani 4.

WNCC basketball teams sweep Otero in Lamar Tourney

Submitted by Jeremy Wosnick, Scottsbluff Star-Herald Sports Reporter

LAMAR, Colo. - The Western Nebraska Community College men's and women's basketball teams swept Otero Junior College Saturday in the final day of the Lamar Tournament.

The Cougar men raced to a 90-53 win while the women registered a bruising 54-33 victory. For the men, the win helped the Cougars avenge a three-point setback to Otero earlier this season. Four players finished in double figures in the game for WNCC. Kelvin Franklin scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Tearon Hill finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Daniel Smith added 13 points and four rebounds and Jamie Eisinger had 12 points.

"We've been playing very average as of late and the guys just responded tonight," WNCC coach Brian Joyce said. "We really needed this for our confidence and hopefully we can keep building some momentum as we close out the first semester."

In addition to scoring 12 points, Eisinger dished out eight assists in his first start of the season at the point guard position.

"Jamie played a real good game for us at the point," Joyce said. "He did a good job of managing the game and distributed the ball well. All of our guards played well and I thought that was a big factor."

Lloyd Hickinson finished the game with nine points and four rebounds. Franklin and Chris Hamblin also pulled down four boards each. David Busma totaled eight rebounds. Also for WNCC in the game, Greg Hinkle finished with four assists.

WNCC finished the game shooting 55 percent from the field. The Cougars held the Rattlers to just 24 percent shooting from the field.

The Cougars held a 40-15 lead at the half.

In the women's game, the Cougars registered their seventh straight win to improve to 11-3 on the season.

WNCC forced 30 turnovers in the contest and held a 28-13 lead at the half.

"We did what we needed to do defensively," WNCC assistant coach Jennifer Pedersen said. "Offensively, we had a lot of opportunities to score but missed way too many shots."

Chelsea Lyles led the Cougars in scoring in the game as she piled up 15 points, including a pair of treys. Emma Beddome knocked down two 3-pointers in finishing with 14 points and Alison Cheney added 11. Cheney and Tawny Drexler each led the team on the boards with seven rebounds. Cheri Palmer dished out three assists.

Both WNCC teams will be back in action on Friday. The Cougar women will host the Lady Cougar Classic and the Cougar men will take part in a tournament at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington.

Men's Game
WNCC 40 50 - 90
Otero 15 38 - 53
WNCC
Jamie Eisinger 12, Daniel Smith 13, Kelvin Franklin 18, Lloyd Hickinson 9, Drew Eisinger 6, David Busma 6, Chris Hamblin 6, Tearon Hill 18.

Women's Game
WNCC 28 26 - 54
Otero 13 20 - 33
WNCC
Cheri Palmer 1, Dana Iverson 3, Emma Beddome 14, SeLina Ysac 2, Alison Cheney 11, Tawny Drexler 6, Chelsea Lyles 15, Carly Glisan 2.

WNCC women defeat McCook, men fall to Lamar

The WNCC men's and women's basketball teams had different outcomes in games on Friday at the Lamar Tournament.

The Cougar women won their sixth straight game with a 73-51 win over McCook Community College. WNCC led 34-24 at the half. WNCC assistant coach Jennifer Pedersen said that McCook slowed the game down a bit, taking the Cougars out of their running offense.

The Cougar women put three players in double figures. Chelsea Lyles finished with 16 points and four rebounds, followed by Dana Iverson with 13 points and two blocks, and SeLina Ysac with 10 points and four rebounds. The Cougar women also received nine points from Alison Cheney and seven points and seven rebounds from Emma Beddome.

The WNCC men weren't as fortunate at the women, falling to Lamar Community College 79-67. The Cougars trailed at halftime 36-27.

WNCC men's coach Brian Joyce said that this team is still learning.

"We've gotten better over the last three weeks and have made progress, but we just can't keep spotting teams lead," he said. "We are a good team and hopefully we will bounce back and pick up a couple more wins before the break."

Daniel Smith paced the Cougars with 23 points followed by Tearon Hill with 14. WNCC also received six points from Lloyd Hickinson and Jamie Eisinger, five points from Drew Eisinger, three points from Dievidas Busma, two points from Chris Hamblin, and one point each from Doradji Wilson and Greg Henkle.

Both squads return to action Saturday with afternoon games in Lamar, Colo. The Cougar women will face Otero Junior College at 2 p.m. followed by the Cougar men taking on Otero at 4 p.m.