The North Arkansas Pioneers jumped out to leads of 26-13 after one quarter in their women’s game on Saturday afternoon, and 47-34 at halftime of the men’s game, in a pair of victories over North Central Missouri College at Pioneer Pavilion in Harrison, Arkansas.
In the women’s contest, the Lady Pirates rebounded well in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Pioneers 23-15 to cut the halftime deficit to 41-36, but NCMC was outscored 24-14 in the third quarter, and succumbed to Northark, seeing their record drop to 6-12, while Northark improves to 17-4.
Grace Coates led the Pioneer women with 21 points, with Ashlynn Taylor adding 18, and Tori Hayes 11 points. Center Brooklyn Schmelter came off of the Northark bench to add 10 points and three blocks. For North Central, sophomore Maddie Book, with 9 of 12 accuracy from the field, led the Lady Pirates with a game-high 22 points. Hailey Burrows had 18, Megan Ernzen 12, and Karrisa Baber 10 for NCMC.
The Pirates men’s basketball team, buoyed by a blowout win over rival Metropolitan Community College at mid-week, but hoped to take that momentum on the road, but instead found a Pioneer side ready to roll, as Northark defeated the visitors from Trenton, 101-80. Kenny Chambers led the Pioneers with 20 points, with Garrett Kesterson adding 17, Mitch Closser 17, Skyler Young 12, and Garrett Matlock 11 points.
For North Central Missouri College, the bench contributed 56 of the Pirates 80 points, with Yacento Scott Jr. scoring 16, Cameron Lockett 12, and Jordan Reece 11 points. The leading scorer for Jeremy Esry’s starting group was Soloman Thomas, with eight points.
