WNCC men, women host Trinidad and Otero this weekend

                Friday’s 69-64 loss to McCook Community College was certainly an eye-opener for the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team.

                At the same time, it also served as a wake-up call for the Cougars, who say they’re determined to play much better this Friday and Saturday in key South Sub-Region contests.

                “A good eye-opener game is always good for a team, but this one really hurt us and made us feel bad. I think every guy after that game in the locker room was just mad,” WNCC sophomore Charles Ward said. “It was just one of those games. But, now we are back focused and we should come out ready for this weekend.”

                Both the Cougar men and women will host Trinidad State Junior College on Friday and then Otero Junior College on Saturday. Friday’s women’s contest begins at 5:30 and the Saturday’s women’s contest starts at 1 p.m. The men’s games will follow afterwards.

                The Cougar men, who are 0-2 in sub-region play, have lost their last four games, three of which were in overtime. Ward said they have had a good week of practice and they will be hoping to make a move upwards in the sub-region standings.

                “These two games are important for us to get back on top of the region as well as for our team,” Ward said. “These two games this weekend will show you how tough this team is mentally and if we are going to get it figured out or not. So, these are very important.”

                Ward, who is averaging 18 points a game and has connected on 24 3-pointers, said it is important to play the entire 40 minutes of a game and not what they did against McCook where they let the Indians come back from a comfortable lead for the victory.

                “Playing an entire game is very important because we have been through it all this year,” he said. “We have lost games that we should have made our free throws. We lost games off of turnovers. We lost games because of our execution. And then having the game won against McCook and then just losing it is one of those games that was an eye-opener for us because we haven’t been in a game where we have had a really good start and not a good finish.  We are focusing on that this week in practice and going hard on the little things, we will be ready for this weekend.”

                This Cougars will have three straight home sub-region games beginning with Trinidad State on Friday. Trinidad State enters the men’s contest with a 3-2 sub-region record (10-6) overall. Saturday’s opponent in Otero Junior College comes in at 14-4 overall (2-2 sub-region). Otero captured the Region IX title a year ago on the floor of Cougar Palace.

                After this weekend, the Cougars will face Eastern Wyoming College at Cougar Palace on Tuesday in another sub-region contest. That contest will be a battle from the start after EWC topped McCook 106-70 on Tuesday to move to 3-2 in the sub-region and 9-7 overall.

                Ward said there are plenty of games left and they are not looking at just one win to turn the season around, but stringing together a nice win streak.

                “We are just not satisfied with just one win,” the sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., said. “Our record should be way better than what it is. We are ready to get on a winning streak. I think we will do good things this weekend.”

Ward, who started the McCook game off with 11 straight points, said this team has plenty of talent and anyone can put up points. For him, he is not worried about the statistics, it is the winning that matters the most.

                “We lost to McCook and what matters to me is just getting the win,” he said. “I don’t care what the stats are, I just want to get the win and help my team win as much as possible and try to get to nationals. I believe in this team and I have a lot of faith in them. I think we will come out focused this weekend and the energy will be there from the bench. We just need the crowd to be there and to still have faith in us.”

                While the men are looking to climb the ladder of the sub-region, the Cougar women are hoping to stay unbeaten with hopes of hosting the regional tournament in March. The Cougar women are 2-0 in the sub-region and control their own destiny. Trinidad State and Otero are each 1-1 in conference play entering this weekend. Otero will have Eastern Wyoming College, which is 2-2 in the sub-region after dropping McCook on Tuesday 69-64, on Friday before traveling to WNCC on Saturday.

                This weekend’s women’s contests will have a big factor in the shake-up of the sub-region standings.

                The women, however, are playing well. The Cougars are ranked fourth in the nation in offense scoring at a clip of 79.9 points a game. The Cougars only trail Shelton State Community College (89-1), Connors State College (85.9) and Blinn College (82.4). The highest Region IX team after WNCC is Otero Junior College, who comes in at No. 15 in scoring with an average of 76.9 points a game.

                The Cougar women have four players that are averaging over seven points a game, led by sophomore Gritt Ryder with 12.7 points a game. Shalisa Moffit is averaging nine points, followed by Jessica Aratani at 8.1, and Ashley Stevens at 7.6.

Defensively, the Cougars are just as sparkling, giving up just 43.4 points a game. The women have already recorded 342 steals and dished out 348 assists. Ryder is nearing triple digits in both categories, having dished out 78 assists and recorded 67 steals.

After these three home contests, the Cougar men and women won’t return home until Feb. 8 and 9 when they host Lamar and Northeastern Colorado.

WNCC signs WESTCO Zephyrs' Ty Wilson to letter of intent

               Ty Wilson’s passion for baseball runs deep.

The Scottsbluff High School senior won’t have to go far to continue playing the game he loves at the next level after he signed a letter of intent to play for Mike Jones and the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team on Tuesday.

“I’m coming here because I have always wanted to play for Coach Mike Jones,” Wilson said. “He helped me through most of my baseball career. This is also a good place for me to start off with.”

Wilson, who plans to major in civil engineering, had plans of attending the University of Nebraska Omaha right out of high school. But he decided that this was his best route.

“Staying here helps me a lot because I know everybody in this city and I don’t have to get used to anything going to a whole new school,” Wilson said. “It will be a little bit different practicing with different guys, but I should be able to get used to it.”

Last season playing for Mark Moran and the WESTCO Zephyrs senior legion program, Wilson was exceptional. Wilson led the team in home runs with six, had 51 runs batted in, and scored 50 runs in his first year with the Zephyrs.

Wilson said his game improved a ton after moving up through the Twin Cities programs. He said the toughest adjustment for him was moving from the junior to the senior team.

“I started playing in the American League of the 23 Club. I’ve grown and I have got bigger,” he said. “The biggest jump was going from the Express to the Zephyrs.”

Wilson said his home-run power last season was a surprise to him.

“Honestly, when I did hit my home runs I wasn’t expecting to get a home run. They just kind of happened,” he said. “Most big leaguers will tell you that is what happens. I am just trying to place the ball where I need to when I go up to bat. The home runs just come to me.”

Jones, who is entering his 12th year as WNCC’s coach, said Wilson is the type of player who can do it all.

“He brings a lot of things to the team like his athletic ability and he can play multiple positions,” Jones said. “We want him to play second base, but he can play multiple positions. And, with him being an offensive guy, making the jump into college you have to be able to score runs and be able to hit. If you have a hitter at every position, you will be a better ball club. He brings us a hitter’s mentality, an offensive type of mind, and a guy that is ready to step up and be ready to play. He will not be scared. He has enough courage that he will step in and play.”

Jones said Wilson has developed as a baseball player throughout his career.

“It is nice to see him develop from being a boy to a young man, while watching him come through camps to watching him play with his legion team and traveling teams,” Jones said. “I know his background. He will fit in real well and make us all proud.”

Wilson helped lead WESTCO to a 37-23 record a year ago and a berth in the Class A state tournament. He’s looking forward to another season with the Zephyrs again this year.

Wilson’s addition to the Cougars gives the roster quite a local flavor. The current Scottsbluff and Gering graduates on the WNCC team include Nate Marquez, Grant Rimington, Tharyn Curtis, and Joe Moran.

This year’s WNCC baseball team will open its season Feb. 9-10 with home games against McCook Community College.

WNCC men fall to McCook

  The McCook Community College men’s basketball team went on a late 20-4 run to upend Western Nebraska Community College 69-63 in south sub-region play on Friday at Cougar Palace.

                The Cougars were playing well early on, holding a 22-14 lead in the first half and then had a 43-36 lead in the second half on a Charles Ward bucket and free throw. The Cougars even went up 48-43 on a Zach Clemens free throw and a Cody Johnson 3-pointer.

                After that, though, the Indians turned up the heat defensively, limiting the Cougars to practically one shot. Also, what hindered the Cougars was missing easy bunnies underneath to untimely turnovers.

                The Cougars shot just 39 percent from the field in the second half compared to 44 percent for the Indians. The first half was turned around as the Cougars shot 49 percent and the Indians 33 percent.

                WNCC coach Russ Beck said it was a matter his team didn’t execute down the stretch.

                “We got out hustled tonight. Give McCook credit, they did what they needed to do,” he said. “They scored 17 points off of 16 turnovers and they crashed the boards. We didn’t box out giving them too many second chance opportunities. They wanted this game more than we did, which shocks me.”

                A big reason for the Cougars’ torrid first half start was the play of Ward, who scored the first 13 points of the game on three 3-pointers. Ward, the sophomore from Phoenix, missed just one shot in the first five minutes of the game. WNCC held a 13-7 lead early on.

                After that early lead, the other players started heating up as Youssoupha Kane hammered home a dunk and then Rich Williams drained a big 3-pointer to put WNCC up 22-12. The Indians fought back to tie the game at 30-30 on a bucket by Tony Dobbinson before Isaiah Castellaw gave the Cougars the halftime lead at 32-30 on a last second shot.

                The second half was a tale of two 10-minute spurts. The first 10 minutes, the Cougars looked sharp and the last 10 minutes, they couldn’t buy a bucket as McCook led 68-56 with 31 seconds to play. WNCC made a fast and furious comeback as Kane hit a bucket, Trey Moore made two free throws and Williams hit a 3-pointer, but that was as close as the Cougars got before time ran out.

                WNCC was led in scoring by Ward with 24 points, while Kane had had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson also finished with 11 points.

                WNCC will next be in action next weekend when they host Trinidad State and Otero.

McCook                30 39 – 69

WNCC                   32 32 – 64

MCCOOK

Tony Dobbinson 22, Tony Lester 5, Antownn Boyd 11, Anthony Eastern 6, Cyrell Hodges 8, Dominique McKinzie 14, Ademe Smart 3.

WNCC

Zach Clemens 3, Rich Williams 8, Trey Moore 2, Isaiah Castellaw 2, Charles Ward 24, Cody Johnson 11, Youssoupha Kane 10, Chad Calcaterra 4.

WNCC women topple McCook to go to 2-0 in sub-region play

    The Western Nebraska Community College women put three players in double figures and put together a strong second half defensive effort in picking up their second straight sub-region win with a 72-54 win over McCook Community College on Friday at Cougar Palace.

                The Cougars, in capturing the win, put three players in double figures. Bridgeport’s Ashley Stevens led the way with 18 points followed by Gritt Ryder with 13 and Morrill’s Jessica Aratani with 12.

                Kelsey Doddridge, who finished with nine points, said the key to the game was coming out in the second half and playing their game. WNCC held a slim 31-30 lead at halftime.

                Doddridge said the halftime speech by head coach Dave Harnish woke the team up.

                “He [Harnish] told us that it was our choice, our team. He can coach us all he can, but it is our choice whether we come out and win this game,” she said. “He said we have to do the playing and this is not who we are and how we play. We had to make the choice whether we wanted to win this game or give in.”

                In the second half, the Cougars outscored the Indians 41-24, including a 26-6 run that pushed the lead to 20 points with just under 13 minutes to play. The big key for the second half run was the team’s defense, which generated a number of steals.

                “We have stayed true to our defense all year because we know that is what got us here,” Doddridge said. “We are a defensive team and we know that if we play good defense our offense will come.”

                The other thing that stood out was the team’s turnovers. In the first half, the Cougars committed 11 turnovers and in the second half that went down to just eight. As for steals, the Cougars had 17 steals, led by Ryder with six and Aratani and Laurin Rivera with three each.

                “He wasn’t happy with the turnovers in the beginning and in the second half we came out and played our ball,” she said. “The first 10 minutes we decided that we wanted to win this game and put it away. We played our defense and did it.”

                Ryder and Stevens paced the team during that crucial second half run. Ryder eight points while Stevens nine points. Aratani also tossed in four points, while Torrington’s Mikayla Brower added five, including a big 3-pointer.

                The Cougars pushed the lead to 35 with about two minutes to play on clutch free throw shooting and a 3-pointer by Laurin Rivera.

                WNCC had balanced scoring on the night. Besides the three players in double digits, three others came within a point of hitting double figures finishing with nine points. They were Doddridge, Brower, and Rivera.

Shelby Hemmann led the Indians with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Doddridge said the balanced scoring that the Cougars put up shows a lot about the team.

“We run an offense that everyone can score in,” she said. “it is not set for one player and we know everyone has their strengths and everyone can score.”

The Cougars, who have won five straight, will have two more sub-region contests next weekend when they host Trinidad State on Friday and Otero Junior College on Saturday.

“These are the games that count now that we are in the sub-region and we have to keep winning so we can get a Region IX championship,” she said.

McCook                               30 34 – 64

WNCC                                   32 41 – 72

MCCOOK

Amir Davis 1, Akia Davis 14, Sydney Young 2, Tiffani Lewis 5, Mikaila Newton 8, Janecia Jenkins 2, Julie Gallegos 3, Shleby Hemmann 19,.

WNCC

Mikayla Brower 9, Laurin Rivera 9, Kelsey Doddridge 9, Gritt Ryder 13, Katie Kerkhoff 2, Ashley Stevens 18, Jessica Aratani 12.

WNCC top Lamar, men fall

[1-8-2012]   LAMAR, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team received 17 points from Ashley Stevens as the Cougars opened south sub-region with a 79-52 win over Lamar Community College on Tuesday in Lamar, Colo.

               The men weren't as fortunate, losing another tough contest to Lamar 81-74 in overtime to open south sub-region play.

               In the women's contest, WNCC had a commanding 34-23 lead before foul trouble allowed the Runnin' Lopes to come back. WNCC held just a 39-34 lead at intermission.

               The second half was the difference as the Cougars tough defense held Lamar to just 18 points as the Cougars rattled off 79 points.

               WNCC's offense was highlighted by eight 3-pointers. Torrington's Mikayla Brower canned three 3-pointers to go with her 13 points. Maurissa Ortega and Laurin Rivera each had two treys, while Shalisa Moffit had one.

               Four Cougars finished with double digits. After Stevens' 17 points, Morrill's Jessica Aratani had 16, Brower finished with 13, and Rivera had 12. Moffit added nine points followed by Ortega with six, Gritt Ryder with five, and Michelle Brassard with two.

               The men's contest was a hard-fought contest from start to finish. Unfortunately, WNCC coach Russ Beck said free throw shooting did the team in. On the bright side, Beck said his team won every other statistically category.

               "I challenged the boys and told them to get in the gym and make a hundred a day," he said. "In practice we can't take free throws as a break from running because when you take a break, it breaks you in the game when you can't hit them."

               The game was close to start as the teams were tied at 19-19 before Lamar forged ahead 35-27 at halftime.

               The second half was a battle as WNCC came back to grab a 43-42 lead. After that both teams went back and forth before settling for a 68-68 tie after regulation. In the extra five minutes, which was the team's second consecutive overtime game and third in five games, the Cougars fell short, but it wasn't without trying.

               Lamar led 75-70 late until Rich Williams hit a 3-pointer, but then Lamar hit some clutch free throws down the stretch to get the win.

               ""I really have loved coaching my boys this past week," Beck said. "We have a group that listens, a group that shares the ball, and a group that is positive. When we decide to quit having to learn from a loss, then we will be prepared to teach the loser. I stand by this team and we will be in teh hunt by the time this is all said and done. It is one day at a time."

               Both squads return to action on Friday when they host McCook Community College in another sub-region contest. The women's contest starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men's game.

WNCC volleyball coach Giovana Melo to hold Triple Crown volleyball tryout on Sunday, Jan. 13

                Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coaches Giovana Melo and Fatima Balza will be holding a tryout for Nebraska high school volleyball players for a Triple Crown Sports all-star volleyball team that will play in a national invitational tournament/camp in June in Richmond, Virg.
                The tryout for this exclusive Nebraska all-star team will be held Sunday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. at WNCC’s Cougar Palace. Volleyball players from across Nebraska who are currently a junior through freshman (graduating classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016) are eligible to try out for a spot on the team.
                Melo said Triple Crown contacted her to see if she would be interesting in coaching this all-star volleyball team and she said yes. Melo said depending on where the players are from, there could be some practices later in the spring.
                The Triple Crown Nebraska All-star team will participate in a National Team Camp June 17-22 in Richmond, Virg. The national camp will be led by Penn State volleyball coach Russ Rose. Rose has led the Nittany Lions to five national titles in his 34 years as head coach. He has a 1,033-164 win/loss record and had the highest winning percentage (.863) in NCAA history.
                The six-day camp will include a college open house about the recruiting process from recruiting experts at NSCA; college combine/showcase; and  commemorative team jersey; 10 instructional volleyball matches against other teams.
                Julie Hilt, the volleyball director at Triple Crown Sports, said Triple Crown Sports is excited to be entering into the sport of volleyball.
                “We have two great events in 2013 that will provide a great recruiting opportunity for athletes in your program,” she said. “I invite you to bring your teams to our TC Classic to prepare for AAU’s or JO’s or simply to play in a quality end-of-season tournament. I also have a great opportunity for individuals from your club to come play on a team instructed by college coaches and then participate in a Showcase/Camp and three-hour camp run by Penn State head coach Russ Rose.”
                For more information on the Triple Crown Nebraska all-star team and tryouts, contact either Melo at melog@wncc.edu or at 308-635-6028, or Hilt at Julie@triplecrownsports.com. The Triple Crown National Team Camp website is located at http://www.triplecrownsports.com. 

WNCC women top Northwest Kansas, men fall in overtime

               GOODLAND, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College men's and women's basketball teams kicked off the new year with a split of contests on Monday against Northwest Kansas Technical College in Kansas.

               The Cougar women put five players in double figures, led by Gritt Ryder's 14 points, as they ran past Northwest Kansas 88-52 for their third straight win.

               The WNCC men, after getting two clutch 3-pointers by Trey Moore and Rich Williams in the waning seconds of regulation and overtime, fell to the Mavericks 77-76 in an extra 5-minute period. It was the second time the two squads have gone to overtime. WNCC won the first encounter back on Dec. 7, 96-85.

               The women's game was all Cougars. After the two squads were tied early at 9-9, the Cougars went on a 19-2 run to lead 28-11 before leading 55-25 at halftime.

               WNCC quickly put the game away with a 21-point run that pushed the lead to 78-29 and the Cougars never looked back.

               Gritt Ryder led the way with 14 points followed by Ashley Stevens with 13 points. Jessica Aratani and Mikayla Brower each chipped in 12 points, while Shalisa Moffit had 11 points. Michelle Brassard also had a near double-figure night with nine points.

               The men's contest was a tight-knit contest from the get-go and WNCC coach Russ Beck was pleased with how hard his team played while playing short-handed. The Cougars hit a number of clutch shots and they kept fighting until the end.

               "We turned the ball over too much and we gave up too many offensive rebounds," he said. "However, we were scrappy and really competed. We had guys step up and hit huge shots. I was proud of the guys and we need to stay positive and continue to get better. Starting tomorrow we need to win them all as we start subregion play."

               WNCC was down early 27-23 deficit to take a 29-27 lead. WNCC led 32-29 in the fading seconds of the first half before Northwest Kansas hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a 33-32 halftime lead.

               The second half saw the teams switch leads plenty of times. WNCC took a 50-46 lead on a Cody Johnson 3-pointer.Northwest came back to take a 66-60 lead and led 68-65 with 13 seconds to play. Trey Moore forced overtime as he hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left.

               In the extra period, the Mavericks went up 74-69 on back-to-back 3-pointers and led 76-71 with two minutes to play. WNCC came storming back, tying the contest at 76-76 on a Rich Williams 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play. Northwest's Gian Clavell then nailed one of two free throws with four seconds to play for the win.

               Both WNCC teams will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Lamar Community College to open up South Subregion play. After Tuesday, the Cougars return home to face McCook Community College on Friday.

Three WNCC softball players sign with Friends University

                Gering graduates Madison Spencer and Kayla Romey have always dreamed about playing four-year softball. Now, they get the chance after signing letter of intents with Friends University in Wichita, Kan., on Saturday.

                The two Western Nebraska Community College teammates, along with Cougar sophomore Melanie Rowson of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, all signed with Friends University, a NAIA institution, and are thankful to get there future college out of the way before they start practicing for their season next month.

                In fact, all three Cougar players have taken different turns to get to this point. Romey and Rowson were members of the Cougar team last year. Spencer played last season at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., before electing to play this year, her sophomore year, at WNCC.

                Romey saw action last season as a freshman for the defending Region IX champions primarily as a pinch runner. This season, Romey will see action in the outfield. She said she selected Friends University because the program resembles the one at WNCC.

                “I was actually looking at Chadron first because it was so close to home and I was afraid of moving away, but then the Friends’ coach contacted me,” she said. “We went and saw the campus and I really enjoyed it. Their academic programs are very good of what I want to go into [graphic design]. Their coach is a lot like Coach Winn. I like how the program is structured and it will be a nice transition.”

                Romey credits a lot of her success to WNCC softball coach Maria Winn-Ratliff.

                “She has done a lot for me. She doesn’t just help you with softball, she helps you with life in general,” Romey said. “She teaches you to be a good person in every aspect of life. She puts challenges your way that teaches you to overcome those challenges and I believe that will help me in the future. She has prepared me for a four-year college in the fact she has taught me time-management and organizational skills that I am sure I will need when I am not here and close to family when they can help  me. I feel she has done a lot to impact my life.”

Romey batted .317 as a pinch hitter. Her main goal last year was that of a pinch runner because of her speed. Romey stole eight bases and scoring 16 runs a season ago.

Spencer enters her first year as a Cougars after spending last year as the starting catcher at Northeastern Junior College. The Plainswomen were in their first year and failed to win a game. Spencer, however, was one of the team’s top hitters.

Upon transferring to WNCC, Spencer will see a shift from her usual catcher spot, a position she has played all through her career, to an outfielder. Spencer said that she would not have received this opportunity of going to Friends if she wouldn’t have transferred.

                “I decided to go there because it is a lot like here and they have high expectations,” Spencer said. “I am excited for the challenge and it will be interesting. Throughout my softball career I have always caught but this year I am playing outfield and I can say that if I wouldn’t have come to WNCC, I wouldn’t be getting this opportunity know.”

                Spencer said she selected Friends because she is originally from Kansas and has relatives from the state. And, when she attends Friends, she will either be playing the outfield or be behind the plate. Whatever the case, she will be ready.

                Spencer said she has become a better player over the past couple years.

“It is not so much that I have improved, it is that I have become a better well-rounded player,” Spencer said. “I learned not to take things for granted and since coming to WNCC, I am getting a chance to play softball and thanks to my teammates helping me, I think I am better well-rounded.”

Spencer said being a part of the Cougar softball program is one of her life-long dreams.

“I love coming back to WNCC to play,” she said. “When I was in school and coming to their hitting camps, [the girls] always wanted to be in the program. It is actually nice to be a Cougar now and knowing that so many kids look up to you and wanting to be just like you. That is amazing.”

                 Rowson, who redshirted last season after undergoing shoulder surgery, is anxious to get back on the field and start playing again.

                “I am very, very ready to get back on the field,” the outfielder from Canada said. “The season is coming close and I am very excited for it. I can’t wait to get out there again.

                Rowson said it was easy to pick Friends not only because of the softball tradition of the NAIA school, but the fact that she will be going there with two teammates.

                “I visited both schools back to back and after going to Friends, it just felt right,” Rowson said. “It felt like home when I went there. The program is a lot like Coach Winn’s program where it is structured. I feel like I fit well here [at WNCC] so I thought it would be a great fit for me there as well.”

                All three are excited that they are going to the same college. Romey is looking forward to playing with Spencer and Rowson another two years.

                “I have met a new friend Canada and I have been with Maddie since high school so that will be a good transition as well going with friends,” Romey said.

Rowson said they can bring a lot to the table at Friends.

“Team chemistry is always a key component of doing well on the field and off the field,” Rowson said. “I think all three of us, being so close, we can bring that to Friends and the chemistry at Friends will be the same.”