'Turkeys' power Indians to big victory

Thursday, November 29, 2018
Sophomore Jacob Boden has soared in from Stockholm, Sweden, and scored a team-high 17 points for the victorious McCook Community College men Wednesday night.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College Men’s basketball team rolled to a 110-51 win over the York College JV Wednesday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

After York came out and dominated the first five minutes of the game to lead by seven points, the Indians stepped up with defensive pressure and held the Panthers to five points in the final 14 minutes of the half and led 58-16 after 20 minutes of play.

“That was the game right there,” MCC coach Brandon Lenhart said.

The team keeps track of “turkeys” defined as getting three defensive stops in a row.

Typically if a team can record seven turkeys in a game they win.

Lenhart noted that the Indians came up with 11 turkeys in the first half alone.

MCC held the Panthers to 28.6 percent shooting and forced 14 first-half turnovers.

“I thought York did a nice job of getting to the paint all game but particularly in the second half,” Lenhart said.

In addition to the team’s defensive performance in the first half, the coach was pleased with the offensive balance for the game.

After struggling against zone defenses earlier this season, Lenhart was pleased with the way the team was able to fix some things on offense.

“Overall I thought we did a good job of executing and everybody got to play and show what they can or can’t do,” Lenhart said.

Sophomore transfer Jacob Boden (Stockholm, Sweden) led MCC with 17 points.

Sophomore Peanut Cunningham (Louisville, Kent.) scored 15 points with 13 coming in the first half.

Freshman Tyrek Battle-Holley (Jersey City, N.J.) and freshman Mardrez McBride (Augusta, Ga.) both added 15 points.

Avanthony “AV” Banks (Portageville, Mo.) scored 12 points – all from the 3-point line – on a four-of-six night, and Miles Black (Jonesboro, Ga.) added 11 points.

The Indians shot 55.7 percent from the field for the game including 24 of 36 in the second half (66.7 percent) and 14 of 35 shots from beyond the 3-point line (40 percent).

York finished the game shooting 32.1 percent from the field and committed 22 turnovers.

MCC also enjoyed a dominating performance on the boards, 57-22 with freshman Anani Ikechukwu (Abuja, Nigeria) leading the way with 10. Sophomore Ron Rice (New York, N.Y.) picked up seven.

“We still have a lot to clean up and have a couple big weekends ahead of starting out in Gillette Friday,” Lenhart said.

The Indians improve to 5-4 and take on the 9-1 Casper Thunderbirds Friday at 5:30 p.m. (MT) in the Gillette Classic followed by a Saturday game at 5 p.m. (MT) against the hosts who have won six straight games and are at 8-2 on the year.

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