Southeast (NE) Community College shooting guard Denim Johnson hit a game-winning three-point shot with under a minute remaining in the second half, leading the Storm to an 84-80 victory over North Central Missouri College on Saturday at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton.
The Pirates controlled a 42-37 lead at the break, with freshman forward Nelson Reynolds hitting five 3-point field goals, with Carlton Thomas dominating inside with 10 points. However, the Storm’s second half performance was stronger, with the visitors from Beatrice, holding North Central to 38 points while scoring 47 of their own.
The game represented a showdown of D-2 juco powers, with both squads coming in with identical 13-4 records. Johnson led SCC with 24 points, with Luke Williams adding 17 points, Maijhe Wiley 16, and Enda Brennan 10.
NCMC, now 13-5 on the season, was paced by 21 points from Reynolds, with Thomas adding 20 and Isaiah Reams 10 points.
Tuesday night’s NCMC home game with SEMO Prep has been cancelled due to travel issues with SEMO Prep. A make-up date is being worked on.
The Lady Pirates, on Saturday, received a strong challenge from Southeast but survived, winning 86-73. Nora Ford led NCMC with 20 points, with Ianara Morbidoni scoring 16, Kennadie Crowe 13, and Jordyn Gray 12.
SCC, falling to 9-9, had 20 points from Shelby Siebold, Jordan Koehler’s 14, Matalynn Campbell with 11, and Kaylee Klover 10.
Between games, North Central Missouri College welcomed four new members to the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame, opening the doors to baseball player (2008-2009) Chris Green, basketball player (2012-2014) Samone Redditt, men’s basketball assistant coach, the late Richard Woods (2004-2014), and TJC basketball player Louis Wilson (1984-1986).
Saturday’s doubleheader was broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7. The teams will have a doubleheader rematch on Saturday, February 4th at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska.
NCMC women’s basketball coach has announced an addition to the Lady Pirates schedule, with a home date on Sunday night, January 22nd against the Cottey College reserve at 7 o’clock in the evening. NCMC is scrambling to fill openings on the women’s schedule, with Region XVI rivals Metropolitan and St. Louis ending their seasons early due to lack of available players for the final six weeks of the campaign, cancelling four games for the 19th ranked Lady Pirate squad.
