No. 8 Northeastern JC women down McCook CC

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Jon Buhlmann/McCook Daily Gazette Sierra Guy of McCook Community College dribbles around a Northeastern Junior College defender in the game against Northeastern that took place on Tuesday in True Hall Gymnasium. NJC won the game 71-49.

The No. 8-ranked Northeastern Junior College women's basketball team posted a 71-49 win over the McCook Community College women Tuesday night at True Hall Gymnasium.

However, the game was much closer than the final score indicated, said MCC coach Benjamin Smith. NJC led by just 4 points at halftime (30-26).

"The No. 8 ranked team in the country strolled into True Hall on Tuesday night and for 18 minutes the Lady Indians gave them all they could handle, playing like the team they have to know they are capable of being," Smith said.

Jon Buhlmann/McCook Daily Gazette McCook Community College's Keri Novacek draws a foul as she shoots the ball.

"The second half saw NJC's Sabelle Diata really play like a big-time player. Their entire team from top to bottom is excellent. Coach (Darrel) Parker and coach (Dave) Huss really do a great job with a talented group of young ladies. We really tip our hats to everything they have gotten done thus far this season.

"I'm really dissapointed in our inability to sustain the effort we put forth in the first half, it's just not okay to not play for an entire 40 minutes and that's what I'm most disappointed about.

"Keri Novacek was really just tremendous for us tonight. We came out in the first 3 minutes and played scared basketball, and when Keri went in, all that timidness just went away. She was tremendous.

"We had several players play well for 18 minutes in the first half. I'm not going to say we were thrilled with the first half, because that team is the team we've believed we could be since day one.

"But we were encouraged by our progress and what we were able to accomplish against a great NJC team."

MCC dropped to 7-20. NJC is now 26-1.

MCC plays its final regular season game Saturday against Buckly Air Force Base.

The Indians compete in the Region Tournament in Scottsbluff March 6-10.

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