The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team ran out to a 16-0 lead and Francisco Cruz lit up the scoreboards for 33 points as the Cougars registered their 13th win of the season with a commanding 92-55 win over Laramie County Community College Tuesday night at Cougar Palace. Cruz, who scored a career high 38 points at Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver, was nearly unstoppable on the night. But, it wasn’t just Cruz’ lights out shooting that was stellar, it was the Cougars’ first-half defense, holding the Golden Eagles to 23 points. Cruz, in fact, equaled LCCC’s first-half output with 23 of his 33 points.
“The most impressive thing is that he was 14 of 17 from the field and the guys were unselfish in giving him the ball, and he didn’t turn the ball over,” WNCC coach Brian Joyce said. “That was one of the issues for first semester is that he turned the ball over too much. He is so unselfish that sometimes he doesn’t want to score, but we need him to do that. He did a really good job tonight and our guys did a nice job of giving him the ball.”
But, it wasn’t all Cruz on the evening. The entire team came ready to play and definitely showed it early. Cruz started things with a bucket and then Scott Bamforth nailed a 3-pointer. Later, Cruz connected on a trey and then John Bright took a pass from Daniel Smith to put the Cougars up 16-0.
The Golden Eagles finally got on the scoreboard with 16:02 left in the half as Romaric Lasme scored. LCCC did slice the lead to 10 points, 25-15 with about 10 minutes to play, but the Cougars scored the next 16 points, including nine points from Cruz and a thundering dunk by Tarell Clark to put WNCC up 41-15. The Cougars went on to lead 50-23 as Bright nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“I thought our guys came out with good energy and good passion in the game and I think that led to some easy baskets by playing solid defense early,” Joyce said. “Our guys played over the break and it is obvious. They came back more mature. I think that grind of the first semester where we played 16 games in 37 days was really difficult on our guys. I think they are excited to be back playing again. The focus was really good.”
What Joyce was really impressed with, though, was the defensive effort his team showcased, putting together a complete game.
“I think this was our best defensive game in terms of sustaining the effort throughout,” he said. “ We played good defense in either the first or second half last semester, and this is the best two halves that we played defensively.”
The Cougars never let the Golden Eagles get on a run of making back-to-back buckets until late. At that point, the Cougars already had their biggest lead of the game of 42 points, 83-41, off a Saul Torres drive that resulted in an old-fashioned 3-point play.
Four Cougars finished with double digits. Cruz, who not only had 33 points, he was also pulled down nine rebounds and had three steals and three assists.
Also hitting the double figure column were Bamfroth with 12 points and two 3-pointers, Bright with 11 points, and Clark with 10 points, including three dunks.
The Cougars also out-shot the Golden Eagles, connecting on 61 percent of their shots, while the Cougar defense held LCCC to just 38 percent.
LCCC had three players score in double figures. Kaipo Sabas had 14 points, including two 3-pointers, followed by Lasme and Travis Bostick with 11 points eash.
WNCC, 13-4, will next be on the road Friday night when they take on a streaking Lamar Community College team that upended Region IX-leading North Platte Community College over the weekend. Joyce hopes his team is ready for the challenge.
“You learn a lot about yourselves when you play on the road,” he said. “You expect to win at home, and playing down at Lamar, which I have done many times in this region, is a tough place to play. Hopefully our guys will step up and be ready for a challenge.”
LCCC (5-10) 23 32 – 55
WNCC (13-4) 50 42 – 92
LARAMIE COUNTY
Travis Bostick 11, Mike Johnson 9, Kaipo Sabas 14, Dionte’ Clayborn 1, Tyler Kimzey 2, Romaric Lasme 11, Stan Jones 7.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Tarell Clark 10, Saul Torres 7, Daniel Smith 7, Chris Hamblin 2, Scott Bamforth 12, Francisco Cruz 33, Larry Brown 8, John Bright 11, Ali Djim 2.
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