The Pirates of North Central Missouri College were both in action on Monday night, with the men losing a home test to Kansas City Kansas, falling to 10-7 on the season, while the Lady Pirates rallied in the fourth quarter for a 78-71 win in Marshall against the Missouri Valley College junior varsity.
In the men’s game, broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, the Pirates fell behind by double digits in the first half, and despite a couple of second-half surges, were unable to make up the deficit. KCK, improving to 7-13 on the season, including a pair of wins against NCMC, was paced by point guard Juwan Davenport with 22 points. Sterling Hicks, an off guard from Ruskin High School in Kansas City, hit four three-point shots (all in the first half) as part of a 16 point evening. Malcolm Tate had 10 points and Soloman Thomas 10 points for the Blue Devils.
NCMC, now stuck in a two-game losing skid, was led by 14 points apiece from Jalen Gant and Ryan Ward and 11 points from M.J. Johnson. Jaran Richman scored eight points, all in the second half when the Hamilton product was key in a late-game push by the Pirates, while Jordan Reece and Jake Salisbury all had eight.
The Lady Pirates picked up their second straight win against the Missouri Valley JV, outscoring the Vikings in the fourth quarter, 26-16, rallying from a 56-52 deficit after three quarters of play. Sarah Lamp led the North Central offense, with the Kirksville sophomore scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 boards. Kendey Eaton had 12 points and Maddie Book 11. Whitley Richman had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Nicole Kost added 8 points from the Lady Pirate bench, which tallied 28 points as a group.
The Lady Pirates and Pirates return to Region XVI play on Wednesday evening, hosting the Penn Valley Scouts from the Ketcham Community Center. The women’s game at 5, and men’s contest at 7, will both be broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, with pregame at 4:45.
