The North Central Missouri College Pirates, flying high after a Friday night victory against Highland (KS) Community College, scored only 13 first half points on Saturday night, and despite a spirited come-from-behind effort, fell to Kansas City Kansas Community College, 74-67, seeing their season record drop to 3-2.
In action broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, St. Joseph Lafayette product Sterling Hicks scored 16 first-half points, finishing with 18 for Kansas City Kansas. Dion Union led the Blue Devils with 19 points with DuVonte Beard contributing 11.
It was truly a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde performance for the North Central men, with the 13 point performance in the first half (NCMC trailed 41-13 at halftime) including an over 10 minute scoreless stretch. In the second half, North Central blazed to 54 points, but the halftime deficit was too much to overcome.
Sophomore Jalen Gant had a game-high 31 points (29 in the second half) for the Pirates, with Ryan Ward adding 16 points. Gant was 15 of 21 from the free throw line, where the Pirates generally struggled, shooting only 57.9 percent (22 of 38).
On Friday night, Ward had 25 points for the Pirates, as NCMC beat Highland, 79-71. Gant had 13 points, Jason Feliz 12, and Emil Spriggs 10 points. Highland had 24 points from Holden Redparth and 13 from Jaylin Rutherford.
The Pirates swing of games through the state of Kansas continues on Tuesday night, with a game at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, with a 7:30 tip-off against the Cavaliers. The game will be broadcast live on Hot Country Z 101.7, with pregame at 7:20.
