MCC men end North Platte gymnasium jinx

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook Community College men's basketball team snapped a long losing-streak against North Platte Tuesday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Indians (9-10) defeated the Knights (15-3) 69-60 and won their first game at the NPCC facility since the 2002 season.

MCC led at halftime 29-25, but the Knights tied the game at 33-33. MCC regained the lead at 39-33 on a 3-point play by Trey Mosby and a 3-pointer by Alonzo Louis. The Indians increased their lead to 48-38 with about eight minutes left in the game.

Ray Robinson led the Indians in scoring with 15 points. Ronnell Grant added 13, Javoun Martin 10, Mosby 9 and Louis 9. DeShawn Howard contributed 6, John Hill 5 and Marcus Landry 2.

Martin had two 3-pointers and Louis one. Robinson grabbed 8 rebounds as MCC led on the boards 39-36.

Eugene Bain led the Knights with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Joe Ragland scored 16 and Isaac Joyner 12.

Neither team shot free throws well. NPCC made 18-of-34 free throws and MCC 12-of-23.

The MCC women fell to NPCC 70-34. North Platte snapped a three-game losing streak.

North Platte jumped out to a 20-5 lead and led at halftime 30-16.

Kylie Berry led MCC with 9 points. Skyler Johnson added 8, Britney Bunker 5, Julia Hale 4, Emmalee Fladland 3, Michelle Price 2, Sierra Guy 2 and Tara Wille 1.

The Indians were outrebounded 51-27. Guy grabbed 5 boards.

"With the exception of being very complimentary of North Platte, there were not a lot of positives to pull out of last night's game," said MCC women's assistant coach Carter Roe. "From the opening tap our focus and our intensity simply were not what they needed to be in order to beat a good team on their home floor. We quickly found ourselves in 20-5 hole and never really recovered.

"Kylie Berry led us in scoring off the bench with 9 points, followed by Skylar Johnson's 8. We did actually get tremendous effort out of Amber Epler off the bench, but it was too little too late.

"Credit North Platte for really taking it to us. Roshonda Gayden was outstanding with 18 points and 7 rebounds, Alberts played a nice game and Jesse Smith was her usual very steady, tough self. We tip our hats to those folks and expect a much, much better performance at home on Saturday versus Eastern Wyoming."

Roshonda Gayden paced the Knights with 18 points. Wauneta-Palisade alum Kiane Alberts had 9 points and 11 rebounds. Shalyse Olney and Jessie Smith each had 9 points.

McCook CC: Javoun Martin 10, Trey Mosby 9, Alonzo Louis 9, Deshawn Howard 6, Ronnell Grant 13, Ray Robinson 15, Marcus Landry 2, John Hill 5.

North Platte CC: Delano Howard 3, Joe Ragland 16, Brenton Brown 2, Chase Grabau 6, Isaac Joyner 12, Eleazar Clayton 1, Eugene Bain 19, Kamil Gawrzydek 1.

North Platte: Nancy Kirkendoll 2, Shalyse Olney 9, Shaylyn Miller 3, Jessie Smith 9, Emmy Jeppson 6, Alicia Hall 1, Roshonda Gayden 18, Tabitha Russell 6, Kiane Alberts 9, Andriea Hoskins 7.

McCook CC: Michelle Price 2, Seirra Guy 2, Kylie Berry 9, Emmalee Fladland 3, Skyler Johnson 8, Julia Hale 4, Britney Bunker 5, Tara Wille 1.