NCMC Sweeps Metropolitan CC

North Central Squads Cruise Past Region Rivals
It was a strong day for the North Central Missouri College basketball teams on Saturday as they picked up Region 16 victories over Metropolitan Community College at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton.
The Pirates won the women’s game 86-50 and the men’s game 81-63.
For the North Central women, the victory wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Region 16 Tournament as the Pirates moved to 3-0 in region play with just one contest left.
The game was in hand one quarter in as North Central raced out to a 26-6 lead in the opening 10 minutes. Metropolitan played much closer in the second quarter, but North Central turned it on again in the third quarter, opening the second half on a 28-14 run. The Pirates coasted to the finish in the fourth, winning by 36 points.
Leading the Pirates was Nora Ford, who had 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Angel Wiggins followed with 13 points, four assists and four steals and Maci Moore, Kennadie Crowe and Jordyn Gray all had nine points with Crowe adding seven assists and five rebounds. Toya Bethel and Jordan Hibner each scored eight points.
With the win, North Central, ranked 17th in the nation, moved to 18-4 overall.
The North Central men evened their Region 16 mark at 1-1, having now split games with Metropolitan. Both contests with St. Louis remain on North Central’s schedule.
The Pirates avenged their loss at Metropolitan from Jan. 15 with an 18-point victory. The win was the sixth in a row for the Pirates who have not lost since that game at Metropolitan on Jan. 15.
North Central held a 42-32 advantage at halftime and continued to control the game in the second half as well, slowing building the lead through the game’s final 20 minutes.
Kolten Griffin led NCMC with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Kam Bevel came off the bench for 16 points and five assists. Sterling DeSha had 11 points and seven rebounds and Guy Moran knocked down three triples to add nine points off the bench.
With the victory, North Central moved to 12-9 overall on the season.
Both North Central squads are scheduled to host junior varsity teams tonight (Tuesday) at the Ketcham Community Center. The women face the Missouri Valley JV at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30, taking on the Graceland JV.