Women Overtake Crowder, Men Hold Off Peru JV
Just after the North Central Missouri College women’s basketball team overtook their hosts from Crowder College a siren sounded. It was not to signal North Central battling back in a game they once trailed by double digits, it was to warn of a tornado in the Neosho area.
So with a two-point lead and 2:12 left in the game, the North Central women took shelter in a classroom in another building on the Crowder College campus. An hour passed before the Pirates returned to the court to close out their 86-81 road victory.
The break didn’t seem to stall North Central’s momentum after the Pirates had to rally from a 10-point deficit in the first half. A 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter quickly dissipated in the second as Crowder outscored the Pirates 26-17 in the frame, leading at one point by the 10-point margin.
But North Central battled back behind a balanced scoring attack and an incredible 20-for-20 performance from the free-throw stripe. Right as North Central took its first lead since early in the second quarter, the game was halted by the tornado delay. The final 2:12 offered little to change the outcome, though as the Pirates got the job done, continuing to deliver from the free-throw line.
“We came out sluggish, but fought back, determined to not get blown away,” North Central coach Jenni Croy said. “In the second half we came out and played well together. We had just regained the lead when the tornado sirens happened. Luckily we were put in a classroom with just us and our parents. We came out after that fired up and ready to finish.”
Five Pirates reached double figures with Maci Moore leading the way with 19 points and seven rebounds. Kortlyn Rounkles added 18 points, four assists and three steals and Nora Ford finished with 16 points. Kennadie Crowe had 15 points and Lily Osborn went for 14 points and seven assists.
The win leveled North Central’s record at 2-2 on the season. The women will travel to Quincy, IL today (Tuesday), taking on John Wood Community College in a game that tips off at 5:30. North Central’s women’s team will be home on Thursday against the Missouri Valley College JV at 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday against North Platte Community College at 3 p.m.
NCMC MEN
The North Central men were in a close game of their own the night before, defeating the upset-minded Peru State University junior varsity 87-81 at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton.
The Pirates outscored their visitors in both halves, but only marginally. NCMC led by five at halftime and tacked on just one point to the advantage in the second half.
“It certainly wasn’t our best performance or outcome, but we will take it,” Pirates’ coach Jeremy Esry said. “Hopefully we can use this as some momentum for another tough game on Tuesday.”
Atavian Butler had 23 points and four assists to lead the Pirates and Jeramy Shaw had 13 points and 11 rebounds. North Central also got 10 points from Jackson Andrews and nine from Camron Donatlan.
The win put NCMC back on level ground at 2-2 overall.
North Central’s men will be in Quincy, IL as well tonight (Tuesday), facing off with John Wood, ranked 16th in last week’s NJCAA Division II poll. North Central was ranked sixth in that same poll.
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