The North Central Missouri College basketball teams had offenses as icy as the Monday night weather outside the Ketcham Community Center, falling in a doubleheader sweep to the St. Louis Community College Archers, in a doubleheader broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7.
In the opener, #19 (NJCAA Division 2) ranked St. Louis overwhelmed the Lady Pirates in the first quarter, opening up a 28-11 lead. Although North Central was much more competitive over the final three quarters, the early deficit proved too decisive, with StLCC claiming the 82-57 win. Kyleigh Vaught led St. Louis with 18 points, with Kanisha Green-McClain adding 17, and former St. Joseph Central product Simone Rodney 11, as the Archers improved to 17-6 overall and 3-0 in Region XVI play.
NCMC, now with a mark of 6-16 overall, and 0-3 in region play, was paced by their sophomore co-captains, with Hailey Burrows scoring 16 and Maddie Book 14 points. Freshman center Da’Briauna Bables had nine in defeat.
The Pirate men had their offense stifled by the Archers, with St. Louis riding a 30-point night from Trequon Patterson in a 77-65 road win. Robyion Hughes made five three-pointers in a 19 point effort for StLCC (12-11, 3-0), while Dominique Loyd scoring 15. North Central, now 11-12 on the season, and 1-3 in Region XVI competitions, had 18 points from Marty Jackson, 13 from Jordan Reece, and 11 points from St. Louis native Rayonte Childs.
The Pirate teams will both be in action on Wednesday night, with the Lady Pirates looking to end their losing streak, playing host to the Graceland University at 5:30. The Pirate men face D-1 power Indian Hills, in Ottumwa, Iowa, at 7 o’clock.
The next radio broadcasts of NCMC basketball will be Saturday, with the Lady Pirates and Pirates in Beatrice, Nebraska to take on the Southeast Community College Storm. The women tip off at 2, with the men at 4, both on Hot Country Z 101.7.
Photo credit – NCMCPirates.com / Craig Sager / Trenton, MO