NJC Plainsmen battle McCook Indians to overtime Monday
By Ken McDowell
Sports Editor
MCCOOK, NEB. – The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainsmen suffered a tough 93-92 Region IX South setback Monday at McCook, Neb. Community College in Region IX South action. NJC falls to 5-7 overall and 2-1 in Region IX South while McCook moves to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the South. NJC led by as many as 17 points in the first half, settling for a 39-28 halftime lead. But McCook caught fire in the second half to out-score NJC 51-40, tying the score at 79-79 at the end of regulation.
The Indians edged NJC 14-13 in the overtime period to clinch the win. McCook hit a tip-in bucket with :03 left in the overtime period to take the 93-92 lead and NJC missed a last second shot, securing the victory for the Indians. “It was a game that we should have won,” said NJC Coach Eddie Trenkle, “but McCook played hard and took it to us. We played hard too and we had our chances to win. McCook executed and they kept coming at us and never gave up, even after we got the big lead in the first half. “It was a good game and our kids didn’t give up either with a chance to win at the end, but we just couldn’t get the shot to fall.”
NJC was 29-for-75 from the field for 39% and only 6-for-23 from 3-point range for 26%. NJC also turned the ball over 21 times while forcing McCook to 14 turnovers. NJC was led in scoring by freshman Jalonni McCovery with 17 points; sophomore Robert Jones III 15; freshman Axel Mpoyo 9; sophomores James Dumes and Marcus Cooper and freshman Tyree Robinson 8 each; sophomore Garrett Baggett 7; freshman Naradian James 6; sophomore Brady Baer 5; sophomore Arek Mawien 4 and sophomore J.J. Griffin II 3. McCook had the edge on the boards by out-rebounding NJC 50-47. Jones had 11 rebounds and 6 each for Cooper and Dumes. Griffin also had 3 assists.
On Friday NJC played at Casper, Wyo. College in a non-region game and lost to the Thunderbirds 96-86, snapping a 4-game winning streak. On Wed., Dec. 2 NJC hosted North Platte, Neb. Community College in a Region IX South contest and won 103-89, breaking the century mark for the third straight game. Jones went crazy with 30 points, as he was 8-for-11 from the field, 2-for-2 from 3-point land and 12-for-13 from the free throw line. Cooper followed with 14 points, McCovery 13 and Mpoyo 12.
NJC will get another shot at Casper (9-3) tonight (Wednesday) in the Bank of Colorado Event Center at 6 p.m. On Saturday the Plainsmen host Otero Junior College in Region IX South action at 4 p.m. before taking time off for the holiday break.
Otero is 9-3 overall and 2-0 in the Region IX South with both wins coming on the road, including Wed., Dec. 2 at Western Nebraska Community College (81-58) and Thursday at Eastern Wyoming College (93-78). “Otero is a very good team and this is will be a big game for us Saturday,” Trenkle reported. “They have already proven that they can win big games on the road this year, so we will have to play well to defend our home court. “We would like to win these next 2 games and go into the break with a 7-7 record. That’s not the greatest record in the world but that means we will also be 3-1 in the region. We have played some tough teams so far this year and it has helped make us a better team.” NJC will return from the holiday break Fri., Jan. 8, 2016 at home against Western Nebraska.