WNCC men's basketball team opens season Friday, Saturday at home

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team will kick off their season tonight when they host the WNCC Classic at Cougar Palace.

And for Brian Joyce, he can’t wait to get the season started.

“Every year at the beginning it is really exciting to have a new group of guys that are working together, looking long term, and having an opportunity to win a championship,” Joyce said. “I think we have a have a lot of talent. The biggest thing we have is versatility. We have a lot of guys that can play multiple positions and are very, very competitive that come off of winning teams, and I think that combined with our returners, gives us an edge of what we try to accomplish.”

WNCC open the season tonight at 7 p.m. against Buckley Air Force Base, while Warren Air Force Base and Southwest Academy play at 5 p.m. The Cougars will then play Warren Air Force Base at 7 p.m. while Buckley faces Southwest Academy at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

This weekend’s contests will also honor the area Veterans with free admission to the games. Other events during the weekend include a Tailgate for the Troops beginning around 5:30 p.m. in the west parking lot, weather permitting. WNCC men's basketball coach said this is an opportunity for individuals to bring their favorite tailgate dinner on and enjoy the company of other Cougars fans.

Then, on Saturday, the Cougar softball team will hold an all-you-can-eat Chili Supper in the Cougar Den beginning at 5 p.m. and running to around 7 p.m. The chili dinner costs $5 a ticket and includes chili, dessert and a drink. There will also be a raffle for a variety of Cougar softball merchandise as well as other WNCC items. Tickets for the event can be purchased from any Cougar softball player through Friday night, or at the door.

With all the activities going on this weekend, the Cougars themselves are hoping to start the season strong just like last season. A year ago, WNCC ran off five straight opening season wins before settling for a 16-15 record.

Joyce said this year’s team has all the potential to accomplish the same start as a year ago and even compete for a regional title, especially with three key players returning that say plenty of playing time.

They include Daniel Smith, a 6-0 guard from Baltimore, Md., who averaged 12 points and five assists a game last season. Also returning to the squad is Lloyd Hickinson, a 6-6 forward from Chandler, Ariz., and Chris Hamblin, a 6-6 forward from St. Paul, Minn.

“Those three sophomores played a lot,” Joyce said. “They were either starters or part-time starters and I think that gives you enough to pass on to your younger guys, which is really important as you build your team and building what you are trying to accomplish for the year.”

Those three, however, will have a good nucleus of talent around them. One of the players that Joyce is excited about, as well as the fans should enjoy watching is red-shirt freshman Scott Bamforth, a 6-2 shooting guard from Albuquerque, N.M.

“Scott would have been an important part of our team last year and I thought it would have been better for him to red-shirt last year and put us in a better position,” Joyce said. “I thought the foundation was laid last year and we continue to build upon it, and Scott is one of those guys that will be fun to watch, along with a lot of other guys that we have.”

The Cougars also have two transfers that will add some depth to the leadership roles. They include Brandon Mitchell, a 6-4 forward from Minneapolis, Minn., and Demetrius Rouse, a 6-7 forward/post player from Detroit, Mich.

WNCC’s roster is also dotted with 13 freshmen looking to make an impact. Two players come to the Nebraska via overseas and Brussels, Belguim. They include 6-2 guard Geoffrey Firmin and 6-7 forward/post player Ritchie Mundende.

Other freshmen hoping to make an impact and a return back to Region IX’s elite include Tarell Clark, 6-4 guard from Burnsville, Minn.; Josh Helton, 5-8 guard from El Paso, Texas; Saul Torres, a 6-2 guard from Chihuahua, Mexico, who played high school basketball in Colorado; Francisco Cruz, 6-4 guard/forward from Denver, Colo.; Sedrick McBounds, 6-7 forward from Minneapolis, Minn.; Vigil Baker, 6-2 guard from Minneapolis, Minn.; Brandon Givens, 6-6 forward from Ruffin, S.C.; Larry Brown, a 6-6 forward from St. Paul, Minn.; John Bright, 6-2 guard from Minneapolis, Minn.; and Ali Djim, 6-8 post from Hampton, Virg.

“I think we have the pieces to compete for the championship,” Joyce said. “Like anything else, it depends how things come together and how guys accept their role. We have guys really pushing each other in practice, which is a key part, but it is also key that we pull for each other after that competition is over in practice and they pull for each other in games.”

2008 Cougar Men’s Roster

1 – Lloyd Hickinson, 6-6 sophomore from Chandler, Ariz.; 3 – Terell Clark, 6-4 freshman from Burnsville, Minn., 10 – Josh Helton, 5-8 freshman from El Paso, Texas; 12 – Saul Torres, 6-2 freshman from Chihauhua, Mexico; 15 – Daniel Smith, 6-0 sophomore from Balitmore, Md.; 20 – Chris Hamblin, 6-6 sophomore from St. Paul, Minn.; 22 – Scott Bamforth, 6-2 freshman from Albuquerque, N.M.; 23 – Francisco Crus, 6-4 freshman from Denver, Colo.; 30 – Brandon Mitchell, 6-4 sophomore from Minneapolis, Minn.; 33 – Sedrick McBounds, 6-7 freshman from Minneapolis, Minn.; 34 – Geoffrey Firmin, 6-2 freshman from Brussels, Belgium; 35 – Virgil Baker, 6-2 freshman from Minneapolis, Minn.; 40 – Brandon Givens, 6-6 freshman from Ruffin, S.C.; 42 – Larry Brown, 6-6 freshman from St. Paul., Minn.; 44 – John Bright, 6-2 freshman from Minneapolis, Minn.; 50 – Ritchie Mundende, 6-7 freshman from Brussels, Belgium; 52 – Demetrius Rouse, 6-7 sophomore from Detroit, Mich.; 55 – Ali Djim, 6-8 freshman from Hampton, Virg.

2008 Cougar Men’s Schedule

November

7-8 – Cougar Tournament, Cougar Palace; 13-15 – @ Air Force Prep Tournament, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 21-23 – @ Air Force Prep Tournament, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 25 -- @ Eastern Wyoming, Torrington, Wyo.; 28-29 – TEAM Chevrolet Thanksgiving Classic, Cougar Palace.

December

2 -- @ Laramie County C.C., Cheyenne, Wyo.; 5-6 -- @ EWC Tournament, Torrington, Wyo.; 12-13 – WNCC Tournament, Cougar Palace;

January

13 – Laramie County C.C., Cougar Palace; 16 – @ Lamar Community College, Lamar, Colo.; 20 – Casper College, Cougar Palace; 24 -- @ Northeast Nebraska, Norfolk, Neb.; 28 -- @ Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, Colo.; 30 – Lamar Community College, Cougar Palace;

February

3 – North Platte C.C., Cougar Palace; 7 -- @ McCook Community College, McCook, Neb.; 10 – @ Casper College, Casper, Wyo.; 14 – Eastern Wyoming, Cougar Palace; 20 – Northeast Nebraska, Cougar Palace; 21 – McCook Community College, Cougar Palace; 24 – @ North Platte C.C., North Platte, Neb.; 28 – Northeastern Junior College, Cougar Palace.