The North Central Missouri College Pirates trailed in-state rival State Fair Community College by a halftime score of 46-30, and, with the clock nearing the midway point of the second half, by up to 21 points. It appeared that Coach Jeremy Esry’s squad would be playing “for pride” over the final few minutes of regulation.
However, instead of playing for just pride, the Pirates, buoyed by stifling defense and strong free throw shooting, began a comeback. With points being chopped off the lead as North Central began a consistent move to the free throw line, the Roadrunner lead continued to shrink, while a group of five players for NCMC, led by sophomore guard Rayonte Childs and freshman guard Atavian Butler, began to shine.
After a 1-for-2 trip to the free throw line left the lead at 2 with 10 seconds remaining, the Pirates looked to tie the score. What occurred instead gave North Central the lead. The “Voice of the Pirates” Tom Johnson had the call from Sedalia on Hot Country Z 101.7:
With five seconds remaining, the State Fair guard Damaria Franklin, on a desperate dribble, stepped out of bounds just past the Pirate bench. Two technical free throws and two regular free throws later, the Pirates had escaped the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center with an 89-84 win. Here is victorious coach Jeremy Esry:
Butler led the North Central side with a game-high 21 points. Marty Jackson and Quinan Rieves each had 16 points, with Jeramy Shaw adding 13, and T.J. Babikir 10. The Pirates improve to 2-0 on the record. State Fair, stunned with a record at 1-1, had 19 points from Franklin, 14 for Kaleb Walton-Blanden, and 12 from Sarion McGee.
On Friday night at the McDonald’s Classic in Sedalia, the Pirates opened the 2019-2020 season with a 107-69 win over the overmatched junior varsity from Missouri Valley College. Rieves led North Central with 17 points, as five Pirates were in double figures.
While not enjoying a 2-0 record as their male counterparts, the Lady Pirates of NCMC had to return home feeling relatively pleased after a 1-1 weekend at Johnson County Community College, with a decisive win over Fort Scott, and a competitive loss to the nationally-ranked Johnson County Lady Cavaliers.
On Friday afternoon, the Lady Pirates opened the season with a 70-53 over Fort Scott, racing out to a 23-11 lead after one quarter, and putting the contest away with a 19-7 advantage in the third. Former Southwest Lady Wildcat led North Central with 22 points, with former Chillicothe Lady Hornet Kennedie Kieffer, in her collegiate debut, adding 17 points and 13 rebounds. Former Stanberry Bulldog Lily Osborn sizzled off the bench, hitting all four of her field goal attempts, including a trio of three-field hits, in an 11 point outing. FSCC was paced by 14 points from Mariah McKinney, 12 from Aniya Keeling, and 11 points for Destiny Ellis.
On Saturday, the Lady Pirates were down by only one point to Johnson County at the end of the third quarter, but succumbed to a hot shooting Lady Cavalier group in the fourth quarter, falling 80-72. K.K. Jackson-Morris and Krystal Rice paced JCCC with 17 points each, with Dallie Hoskinson adding 13, and LaJahda Boyland 10 for 2-0 Johnson County. The Lady Pirates, sitting at 1-1, had 23 points from sophomore guard Dymeria Guillory. Rounkles had 19 and Osborn 12.
Saturday’s games were broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7,. as will Tuesday night’s contests from Iowa Falls, Iowa, as North Central takes on the Ellsworth Community College Panthers in doubleheader action. The women’s game will tip at 5:30, followed by the men’s contest, with Tom Johnson providing the play-by-play call.
