The North Central Missouri College women and men opened 2023 on Saturday afternoon, with the Lady Pirates traveling to northeast Kansas to play the Highland Community College Scotties, while the Pirate men stayed home to host the Labette Community College Cardinals.
From Highland’s Ben Allen Fieldhouse, in action heard on Hot Country Z 101.7, the Lady Pirates ran into third quarter foul trouble, which morphed into a shooting slump, as a 17-4 edge for the Scotties in the quarter gave HCC the lead, with the Scotties holding on for a 67-57 win.
Kenadi Rising and Courtney Davis each scored 16 points for Highland Community College, with Brandi Dunn adding 12, and Kimmey Washington 11 points. After being held scoreless in the first half, Washington, a 6’4″ sophomore center from Warner Robins, Georgia, dominated early in the second half for four consecutive baskets, putting NCMC starting forward Maci Moore to the bench with four fouls. Nora Ford led the Lady Pirates with 26 points, with 19 of those in the first half. Ianara Morbidoni had 10.
The loss drops North Central’s mark to 10-5 on the season, dropping the Lady Pirates four spots in Monday’s NJCAA D-2 national poll, to #19. Highland is now 9-5 on the campaign.
The Pirate men opened 2023 at the Ketcham Community Center, rolling to a 98-81 win over Labette. Nelson Reynolds led a balanced North Central attack with 22 points, while Gerald Gittens added 21, Carlton Thomas 19, and Isaiah Reams 11 points.
The Lady Pirates, on Wednesday night, will travel to Neosho, Missouri to play Crowder College (6 PM on Hot Country Z 101.7), with the Pirates hosting the Graceland JV on Thursday night. The North Central men, after Saturday’s win, moved back into the “receiving votes” category in Monday’s D-2 men’s basketball poll.
