MCC men fall short against North Platte

Thursday, February 19, 2009
Jon Buhlmann/McCook Daily Gazette McCook Community College's Javoun Martin tries to stay in bounds against North Platte. Martin scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers, in MCC's 83-80 loss to NPCC. Defending on the play are North Platte's Brenton Brown (12) and Chase Grabeau (22).

The McCook Community College men's basketball team had fell short 83-80 to Mid-Plains rival North Platte Wednesday night at True Hall Gymnasium.

North Platte won the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference title with a 6-2 record and and MCC placed second with a 5-3 record. MCC placed fourth in the NCCAC last year with a 3-5 record.

MCC dropped to 15-13 overall and 2-3 in the Region IX East Sub-Region.

North Platte improved to 19-7 overall and 2-3 in the East Sub-Region.

There is a three-way tie for second place in the East Sub-Region between MCC, North Platte and Northeast-Norfolk.

Western Nebraska is in first place in the East Sub-Region with a 3-0 record and has three games left, including two at home. WNCC hosts Northeast Friday and MCC Saturday and plays at North Platte next Wednesday.

The MCC-NPCC game went wire-to-wire. The biggest lead for MCC was 12 points at 18-6, but North Platte went on a 34-21 run to lead at halftime 40-39.

There were several lead changes in the second half. MCC took an 80-79 lead on a bucket by Trey Mosby, but North Platte's Dorian Williams got a tip-in with 1:02 left in the game to give the Knights an 81-80 lead.

After North Platte was called for an over-and-back violation, MCC's Ronnell Grant missed a close-range shot and NPP got the rebound. Lenhart and the MCC bench wanted a foul on NPCC, but didn't get the call.

After a discussion, the officials called a foul on MCC's Marcus Landry and put 1.2 seconds back on the clock. North Platte's Brenton Brown sealed the win for the Knights with a pair of free throws.

Mosby's desperation heave at the buzzer glanced off the backboard and rim and North Platte got the win.

Grant led the Indians with 19 points. Mosby scored 16, Javoun Martin 14, DeShawn Howard 10 and Marcus Landry 9. Ray Robinson contributed 4, Alonzo Louis 4, John Hill 2 and Drew Diediker 2.

Martin fired in four 3-pointers and Grant three.

North Platte's Joseph Ragland lit up the Indians for 32 points, including three 3-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws. Eugene Bain added 24 points and Brown 15.

"Our kids played hard all game," Lenhart said. "We just didn't have enough gas in the tank at the end. I couldn't ask for more from the kids. We've been dealing with such adversity this year and we're still in a three-way tie for first place."

Lenhart honored sophomores Martin, Mosby, Louis, Howard, Grant and Robinson in an emotional and humorous ceremony at halftime. Then he took a few moments to honor the late Myron Mingo, who was shot and killed Dec. 21 in his hometown of Marksville, La.

Lenhart was still emotional when asked about his players after the game.

"These kids are like my own kids," Lenhart said. "I'll always be there for them 24-7-365. The group's pretty special. I owe it all to these kids. They're part of our basketball family."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: