The North Central Missouri College men?s and women’s basket ball teams won two-out-of- four games in the South-eastern Nebraska Community College Christmas Classic over the weekend.
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The North Central Missouri College men?s and women’s basket ball teams won two-out-of- four games in the South-eastern Nebraska Community College Christmas Classic over the weekend. Both teams finished their weekends with 1-1 records.
NCMC Men
The North Central men turned in their best defensive half of the season against Central Nebraska Community College. The Pirates held CNCC to 22 points in the second half on their way to a 77-59 win.
?This was by far our best defensive effort,? Head Coach Steve Richman said. ?I was very pleased to see our kids come out and play so well, especially on the defensive end of the floor in the second half.?
The Pirates trailed at the end of the first half, 37-36. Brad Nichelson led the way for NCMC with 21 points. Donavan Thompson had 15 points and Andy Chelcher chipped in with 12 points.
In the second game, the Pirates lost to Southeastern Nebraska Community College, 80-69. North Central had the lead down to two points with just over two minutes to play but could not pick up the win.
?We trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half but foul trouble and turnovers killed us,? Richman said.
Mike Goldstein also played havoc with the Pirates? defense all night scoring 37 points to lead all scorers. North Central trailed by nine points at halftime, 44-35.
Chelcher led the Pirates with 14 points. Nichelson had 13 points and both Thompson and Matt Toomey chipped in with 10 points.
The Pirates return home with a 9-6 record overall and will play Penn Valley on Wednesday night in the Ketcham Community Center.
?This will be a big test for us,? Richman said. ?We are hoping to have a big crowd on Wednesday for this key regional match-up.?
NCMC Women
The Lady Pirates also turned in two strong defensive performances. They lost to unbeaten Midland Lutheran junior varsity, 88-76, in overtime. In the second game, however, NCMC held Southeastern to 19 points in the second half to win, 83-44.
?We lost a tough battle with Midland, who is an excellent junior varsity basketball team,? Head Coach James Arnold said. ?We led by as many as 10 points, but a couple of turnovers let them back into the ballgame.?
The Lady Pirates took a one point lead into the locker room, 32-31. In the opening minutes of the second half, North Central built their lead to 10 points. Midland hit a three-pointer and then NCMC turned the ball over on two straight possessions, which allowed Midland to get back in the ballgame.
?We still have some young girls learning how to play in certain situations,? Arnold said. ?But everyone on this team battles and when we gave up our lead our kids kept fighting and forced overtime.?
The two teams finished regulation tied at 70-70. In overtime, Midland outscored North Central, 18 to 6 to win the ballgame, 88-76. Stephanie Beason led the Lady Pirates with 23 points. Leigh Mead had 16 points and Jennifer Collier and Tara Sunderland each added 11 points.
In the second game, NCMC man-handled Southeastern. The Lady Pirates dominated the game from opening tip. At halftime North Central led, 45-25. In the second half North Central held Southeastern to only 19 points.
?That was just a fantastic defensive effort,? Arnold said. ?I really think the girls are beginning to understand our system.?
Meade led the Lady Pirates with 18 points and Dana Lucas added 16 points. Collier had 14 points, Beason had 12 points and Lindsey Lattimore finished with 10 points.
?We had good balance across the board,? Arnold said. ?All five of our starters hit double figures, which is always nice to see.?
The Lady Pirates improve to 5-6 overall and will play Central Methodist tonight at 5:30 at the KCC.