MCC men, women start second half of season Sunday at Hastings

The first semester was a tough one for the McCook Community College men's basketball team.

The Indians completed 15 games and finished the semester with a 6-9 record, including a 5-5 home mark.

"This was the strongest schedule that we have played in the last five years. I strongly believe that this is a the best 6-9 team in the nation," said MCC men's coach Ty Orton.

MCC has lost five games by 5 points or less, losing to Western Wyoming at WWCC 69-67, Lamar CC 73-70, Garden City CC at Garden City 70-65, at Eastern Wyoming College 57-52 and Casper College 64-59.

"These are all very strong teams and we had chances to win," Orton said. "The ball just did not go in or bounced the wrong way for us."

MCC also posted strong wins over Colby CC 80-51 and Laramie County CC 111-89.

"These were great wins this semester and it showed the players that we can win," Orton said.

This year is a special year for MCC because they have the chance to host the region IX tournament if it wins the East sub-region.

That will give McCook a chance to host 17 of the best junior college teams in the nation. The first home conference game is Jan. 17 at MCC against North Platte Community College.

"If you do not come out to any other game this year, this is the one to come to,"Orton said. "This is a great game with great players and one of the best atmosphere's around. This is a great college atmosphere." The women's game is at 5:30 p.m. and the men's game is at 7:30 p.m.

The MCC men's basketball team has a strong semester in the classroom as well finishing with a 3.0 team GPA

MCC will kick off the second semester Sunday at Hastings College at 5 p.m. and the game can be heard on Z102 or on the web at 1021KZMC.com.

"This next semester we plan to work harder on and off of the floor, push ourselves more and create our own luck so that the ball bounces our way," Orton said. "I am looking forward to this semester with great enthusiasm."

MCC women

competitive,

says coach

The MCC women's basketball team had a strong semester but fell short to some very good teams.

MCC finished with a 5-8 record and has one of the best players in region IX women's basketball.

Kamillia Brown is having another all-Region and perhaps an All-American season.

"MCC women's basketball is a strong and competitive team," said MCC women's coach Michelle Orton. "They play hard, play fundamental and are very disciplined. This is a very enjoyable team to coach."

Like the men's team, the MCC women's team has fallen short in several games this season, including a hard loss to perennial powerhouse Snow College 55-50 in overtime.

MCC lost to Concordia by 5 points, lost at Western Wyoming 57-50 and fell just short against Sheridan College.

But the MCC women have posted some very strong wins at Garden City, Brown Mackie CC and Rangley CC.

"We look forward to a strong second semester with this team," said Michelle Orton. "We are very close in every game and we have been holding our opponents to low scoring games. This is a talented team and a hard working team, this will be a fun semester to coach with these ladies."

The MCC women also finished the semester with a very strong team GPA of 3.48.

The MCC women will tip off at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hastings against the Hastings College junior varsity women.

This game can be heard on Z102 and also on the web at 1021KZMC.com.

MCC men's stats

Scoring average/points per game: Trey Harris 12.0, Sterling Link 9.14, Clinton Napoleon 8.8, Kyle Wamsley 8.4, Noel Cardinelli 8.13,Christian Lewis 5.93, Jeremy Mallard 5.73, Johnny Crow 4.4, Mark Versen 4.2, Jamalle Reeves 3.29.

Rebounds per game: Kyle Wamsley 5.67, Sterling Link 5.64.

Assists/total: Trey Harris 41, Jamalle Reeves 30.

Steals/total: Trey Harris 18, Kyle Wamsley 13, Christian Lewis 12.

Team scoring/offense: 73.7 ppg.

Team scoring/defense: 68.3 ppg.

MCC women's stats

Scoring average/points per game: Kamillia Brown 16.0, Amanda Terpstra 7.17, Sadiyyah Guilford 6.5, Staci Moore 6.42, Heaven Johnson 4.83, Bridgette Riddick 4.33, Alexandra Brickley 3.17, Sarah Hector 3.08, Kendra Knight 3.0, Kyle-Lynn Hughes 1.67, Laken Cook 1.44.

Rebounds per game: Sadiyyah Guilford 6.5, Amanda Terpstra 5.75.

Assists/total: Kamillia Brown 33, Staci Moore 18.

Steals/total: Kamillia Brown 31, Staci Moore 19.

Team scoring/offense: 57.4 ppg.

Team scoring/defense: 60.3 ppg.