On Wednesday night, the 20th ranked (NJCAA Division Two) North Central Missouri Colege basketball team secured a victory at Ben Allen Fieldhouse in Highland, Kansas against the homestanding Highland CC Scotties 74-66. Trailing by three points at the half, the Pirates used an explosive 24-4 surge over the first six minutes of the second half to gain the scoreboard advantage they never again relinquished. The win advanced the team’s record to 9-4, with the next challenge for the team against Allen County CC scheduled for Saturday at 2 o’clock at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton. That is the final game of 2023 for Jeremy Esry’s Pirates.
Tyler King emerged as the standout performer in the game against Highland, leading the scoring with an impressive 33 points. King’s stellar performance included a 14-of-19 shooting from the field, significantly contributing to the team’s victory. Isaiah Reams also played a crucial role, adding 14 points with a 6-of-10 shooting performance.
Head coach Jeremy Esry spoke with Tom Johnson on KGOZ Radio about Saturday’s challenge of running their winning streak against Jayhawk Conference foes to three in a row (NCMC beat Johnson County on December 2nd):
NCMC exhibited a robust defensive effort, securing 37 rebounds as a team and limiting their opponents’ shooting efficiency to 38.2% from the field. They forced 19 turnovers from Highland. Giovanni Mack contributed on both ends of the floor, with 6 rebounds and 5 points, while Joe Clark and Jon Carroll added 10 and 7 points, respectively, securing the victory.
Esry spoke about the importance of the positive surge out of the halftime locker room for his squad:
On the opposing side, Highland CC displayed resilience, with notable performances from 6’8″ center Chris Flippin, securing a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Josh Owens contributing 19 points. However, their efforts fell short as the Scotties fall to 7-5.
In the women’s basketball opener, the Lady Pirates, ranked 9th in the latest NJCAA DII poll, faced a defensive challenge on the road against Highland Community College, resulting in a 54-45 loss. The Lady Pirates, now 10-2 overall, aim to rebound from the loss in their upcoming home game against Allen County CC (2 PM Saturday).
Despite shooting challenges, including a 25.0% field goal percentage and 17.9% from beyond the arc, Nateonia Russell’s performance stood out with 7 rebounds and 7 points. Bailey Fleming contributed with a team-high 12 points, but the team faced difficulties securing a victory.
The result of the contest left Lady Pirate coach Jenni Croy both frustrated and looking for solutions to the team’s shooting difficulties:
On the defensive front, Mary Copeland showcased her rebounding skills with 6 rebounds and 7 points for NCMC. Although the Lady Pirates forced 24 turnovers as a team, their shooting struggles prevented them from capitalizing enough for a win.
Highland CC displayed a slightly more efficient offensive performance, shooting 35.0% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range. Jalasia Hull led the Scotties with 18 points, proving to be a significant offensive threat throughout the game. Cameron McNamara dominated on the glass, pulling down 15 rebounds and blocking 5 shots. The Lady Pirates were outrebounded 45-29 in the game. Highland improves to a record of 9-2 with the victory, arguably the most significant for the program this season, having come against a Top-10 ranked foe.
The upcoming NCMC doubleheader against Allen County, known as the Ugly Sweater/Toy Toss Game, is a collaborative effort by Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group, Saint Luke’s Mercer County Clinic, and the NCMC Athletic Department. The event aims to benefit children in Grundy and Mercer counties, specifically those aged 2-17. Donated toys from fans will be sent to the Department of Social Services Children’s Division and Trenton Kiwanis Club for community distribution.
