Late MCC rally falls short

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Marcus Landry (25) of the McCook Community College men drives for a basket over the defense offered by Brylle Kamen (44) of Western Nebraska Community College in basketball action Feb. 5 at the True Hall gym in McCook. The host Indians dropped a 63-59 decision to WNCC. [Click to enlarge]

Most coaches of athletic teams, no matter what the sport, worth a grain of salt do not like to lose.

McCook Community College head coach Brandon Lenhart was visibly disappointed Saturday, Feb. 9, after his MCC squad dropped a 63-59 decision to perennial Region IX power Western Nebraska Community College of Scottsbluff.

Saturday's Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference contest was played at the True Hall gym on the MCC campus in McCook.

The Indians played WNCC dead even in the first half, as the teams went to the locker room tied 29-29. The talented Cougars have seven international players on the roster. One of those players, Francisco Cruz from Mexico, is WNCC's leading scorer. But the Indians helped hold Cruz in check in the first half as he scored just four points.

Cruz came alive in the second half to finish with a game-high 20 points.

The visitors built two big leads in the second half, including a 10-point margin with seven minutes remaining. Both times the Indians battled back.

Antonio Dye started the last comeback with a steal and layup, followed by a basket by Keenan Gaskins from the lane and a 3-pointer by Dye to get MCC within 54-51 with just over five minutes left. McCook cut the lead to a single point, and the Indians actually took a 59-58 lead with 1:50 left on a power layup by Marcus Landry.

Cruz made a key play for the Cougars with just under a minute remaining. He bounced away from the MCC defense after a strong screen and drove for a layup. Landry was whistled for a foul, and Cruz hit the free throw to complete the three-point play and give WNCC a 61-59 lead.

O'Rion Hughes then missed two free throws for WNCC. McCook took the ball down court and guard George Pollard drove the baseline. He made contact with a WNCC defender, but no foul was called, and the Cougars grabbed the rebound and Western called timeout with seven seconds left.

McCook fouled immediately and Cruz hit both free throws for the final margin.

Never counted out

Coach Lenhart said his team can never be counted out of a game.

"Our team's really never out of a game," he said. "They're always in a game because they don't let a lot of things bother them. They hold their composure for the most part and they continue to plug away and continue to believe."

Lenhart said he thought his team looked a bit tired in Saturday's contest.

"That's a little disappointing, being at home," Lenhart said. "We looked a little tired down the stretch. I thought Western Nebraska played a great game. They had a great game plan going in, and they played their tails off. They were tougher than us tonight, and that's hard to stomach, that a team was tougher than us.

"There was a possession (in the second half) when they got five to six straight offensive rebounds and loose balls, and those are possessions that we can't get back that were right in our hands, that were right there, that we just didn't come up with. Those are the things that we've been preaching and teaching all year long."

Lenhart was disappointed in his team's shot selection. The Indians made just 4 of 16 attempts from 3-point range, while the Cougars were 1 of 5 from beyond the 3-point arc.

The MCC coach also was disappointed in his team's effort at the charity stripe. McCook made 11 of 19 free throws (WNCC was 12 of 17 at the line).

"We had guys that knocked down free throws and guys that didn't knock them down. That's just frustrating," he said. "You've got to knock down free throws and we've got to go a lot harder to the rim if we're going to contend. We've really got to get a lot tougher. Those are some of the questions that I have as a coach year-in and year-out, is how tough is our team going to be and the tougher the team the better you're going to be. At halftime I told them 'It's 29-all, and I'm telling you right now, the toughest team mentally and physically is going to win this ball game.' We were right there, had a chance.

"This one's really tough to stomach right now."

North Platte here Tuesday

The Indians, 17-8, will try and bounce back in another big conference game Tuesday, Feb. 9, at home against North Platte Community College.

"Tonight was the biggest game of the year, and Tuesday's the next biggest game of the year," he said. "The best team in the region is coming to town. They have the most wins in our region. They've played some pretty tough competition. North Platte beat Western (Feb. 5) by 21.

"They're coming to play on Tuesday. We've got to tie them up, lace them on. We don't have anything to lose and everything to gain. It should be a fun one, should be a great atmosphere as always, North Platte and McCook. We're excited for the challenge and the opportunities that lie ahead of us to see again how we are going to bounce back from tonight's game."

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the True Hall gym, with the men's game following the McCook C.C.-North Platte women's contest.