Posted: Feb 18, 2016

NJC Plainsmen post Region IX South wins over WNCC and EWC

By Ken Mcdowell SPS

The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainsmen went by the old adage “Pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat” Friday in the Bank of Colorado Event Center over the Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) Cougars. NJC trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half and 8 with under a minute left in regulation to pull off a thrilling 90-89 win over the Cougars in Region IX South action. Sophomore Brady Baer and freshmen Naradian James and Jalonni McCovery each hit treys in the final half-minute to help pull off the win as NJC opened the 2016 season in exciting fashion. On Saturday NJC hosted Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) in another Region IX South game and rallied from a 33-30 halftime deficit to take a 76-64 victory. The Plainsmen improve to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in Region IX South, good enough for a tie for second with Laramie County, Wyo. Community College. Otero Junior College is on top with a 4-0 mark. In Friday’s win over WNCC, NJC fell behind early by 20 points before closing the Cougar lead to 49-40 at halftime. It didn’t look good for the Plainsmen late in the contest with WNCC holding a 8-point lead, and the Cougars had a chance to clinch the win at the free throw line but missed their opportunities. That helped set up the big shots by Baer James and McCovery, which eventually put the Plainsmen over the top. McCovery’s trey came with 5.3 seconds left in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner. Western Nebraska was only 8-for-21 from the free throw line, which was a big key to the NJC victory. NJC went to the line 41 times and hit 32 charity tosses. WNCC fell to 10-7 overall and 2-5 in Region IX South. Sophomore Robert Jones finished with a game-high 27 points to lead NJC; sophomore Marcus Cooper and freshmen Axel Mpoyo and James also finished in double figures with Cooper scoring 20 points and Mpoyo and James 10 each; sophomores J.J. Griffin and Garrett Baggett and McCovery and freshman Tyree Robinson 5 apiece and Baer 3, which was the big trey in the final minute. NJC was able to win despite being out-rebounded 47-32. Jones had a double-double with 10 rebounds, Mpoyo 6 and Robinson 5. Baer distributed 6 assists and Cooper had 3 steals. The NJC defense forced WNCC to turn the ball over 22 times while handing it over 15 times. “I thought our kids continued to buy into what we needed to do to beat Western Nebraska on Friday for the whole 40 minutes,” said NJC Coach Eddie Trenkle. “We worked hard and got the stops we needed and also knocked down some big shots.” In Saturday’s win over EWC, Jones once again netted 20 points; Mpoyo 16; Cooper 8; McCovery 7; Robinson 6; Baggett 5; James, Griffin and Baer 4 each and sophomore Eli Davis 2. NJC dominated the rebounds over EWC 52-25, led by Jones once again with 12, James 9 and Mpoyo 7. Griffin, Jones and Cooper each had 4 assists and Jones 2 steals. EWC falls to 6-12 overall and 1-6 in Region IX South. “Our defense was really good in the second half against Eastern Wyoming,” Trenkle said. “I felt we concentrated on our rebounding and finishing around the basket. I am just really proud of our guys and the effort they show and put forth every day.” NJC played without the services of sophomore James Dumes and Arek Mawien over the weekend. “This past weekend was huge for us because we needed to prove to ourselves that we could still win with a short roster,” Trenkle said. “We continually have young men step up and are excited for this semester because we are really starting to improve.” The Plainsmen will play at Laramie County tonight (Wednesday) in Cheyenne, Wyo. for sole possession of second place in Region IX South. Laramie County is 12-6 overall. On Tuesday the Plainsmen will travel to Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kan.