On Friday morning, the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates departed on a two-day, two-game road trip to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, playing a pair of Nebraska junior college opponents in the Iowa Western Classic. By Saturday night, the Lady Pirates were returning home with another pair of wins under their belt.
On Friday afternoon in front of a sparse crowd at IWCC, the Lady Pirates locked horns with McCook (NE) Community College, with the 5th ranked Lady Pirates emerging triumphant with a narrow 64-59 victory. Despite a lower-scoring affair than NCMC is accustomed to, a balanced attack and resilient play led to the Lady Pirates securing the win.
Jessica Reeter, despite difficulties from three-point range, led her team in scoring with 11 points. Nateonia Russell contributed significantly with 11 points and an impressive defensive performance, recording three steals. Tori Meinecke made her presence felt on both ends of the court, recording seven points and leading the team with nine rebounds.
Bailey Fleming’s sharpshooting from beyond the arc, adding 11 points, and Mary Copeland’s efficient scoring with six points played instrumental roles in the Lady Pirates’ offensive efforts.
McCook Community College displayed a valiant effort in the game, with Madara Liepniece leading their scoring efforts with an impressive 20 points. Audra Vine and Ebba Zalamans contributed with 8 and 9 points, respectively. However, the Lady Pirates’ solid defense managed to limit McCook’s offensive output.
In a dominant display, the Lady Pirates got back to their high-scoring ways on Saturday afternoon, closing out the DMACC Classic undefeated with a convincing 93-53 win over Central CC-Columbus.
Jessica Reeter led the starters with 15 points on 4-10 shooting, showcasing remarkable accuracy from beyond the arc (3-7) and proficiency at the free-throw line (4-6). LaKorria Brown emerged as a crucial contributor off the bench, sinking six of eight three-point attempts and accumulating a game-high 20 points.
The team collectively demonstrated solid teamwork and ball movement, registering 21 assists that underscored their collaborative offensive strategy. Additionally, their resilience on the boards was evident as they secured a total of 58 rebounds, showcasing dominance in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
The undefeated Lady Pirates (6-0) are set to face John Wood CC in a home matchup on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm, and the Lady Pirates aim to extend their impressive streak with another strong performance.
While the Lady Pirates stayed unbeaten on Iowa’s western border, their male counterparts from NCMC were battling high-end competition in Boone, Iowa, taking part in the DMACC (Des Moines Area CC) Classic.
In a challenging Friday night encounter against the 3rd ranked Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Bears, North Central Missouri College (NCMC) faced a tough test but fell short in a high-scoring affair, losing 104-93. This marks NCMC’s second loss against NJCAA DII ranked opponents, emphasizing the difficulty of their early-season schedule.
Tyler King led NCMC’s offensive efforts with a remarkable 38-point performance, showcasing exceptional shooting skills, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. Isaiah Reams contributed significantly with 20 points, displaying proficiency at the free-throw line by making 6-of-7 attempts.
Despite the standout individual performances, NCMC struggled defensively against DMACC’s well-rounded offensive attack, with the opposing team posting efficient shooting numbers, including a 58.7% field goal percentage and an impressive 95.2% from the free-throw line.
The Pirates bounced back to their winning ways on Saturday in a hard-fought victory against Spoon River College, securing a 92-90 win in a closely contested battle with the Snappers. This result marked the conclusion of the DMACC Classic, with NCMC finishing 1-1 in the tournament and pushing their overall record to 6-3.
Tyler King continued to be a dominant force for NCMC, delivering an outstanding 30-point performance. Giovanni Mack contributed 13 points, showcasing a well-rounded game with six-of-11 shooting, along with five rebounds and four assists. Isaiah Reams played a crucial role with 12 points and an active presence on the boards with four rebounds. Dampier Evans made notable contributions with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Despite the close competition, NCMC demonstrated resilience down the stretch, maintaining composure and converting crucial opportunities to secure the win. Spoon River College fought valiantly, with Johnny Torrence leading their offensive charge with an impressive 29-point performance.
Looking ahead, the Pirates are set for a home matchup against the 18th ranked NJCAA DII opponent, John Wood CC, on Tuesday night at the Ketcham Community Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm, and the Pirates aim to continue their competitive performance against ranked opponents.
