WNCC Cougar Bulletin Athletic Newsletter -- March 12, 2022

COUGAR

BULLETIN Newsletter The Latest in Cougar Athletic News

March 12, 2022 – Issue 1

Off to Nationals

Cougar women compete in their 6th straight NJCAA national tournament, will face Murray State on March 16 in first round

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he Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team made some noise at last year’s NJCAA national tournament when they went 2-1 before falling in the quarterfinals to Three Rivers Community College.

This year the team has the same lofty goals plus some as they get ready to compete in the national tournament that begins Wednesday, March 16. The Cougars earned an at-large bid to the national tournament, just like they did last year.

“It means a lot that we are able to compete at nationals,” sophomore Ashley Panem said.

“We basically got a second chance to do something special. We still have a lot to prove and this is the perfect place to do it.”

Ale’Jah Douglas said just getting to nationals is something special and the next step is up to the team.

“It means a lot and it is not something that is done easily,” Douglas said. “Not, the team needs to come in ready to play so we can jump on teams early if we want to win.”

WNCC, who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country, earned the 12th seed and will face the 21st-seeded Murray State College, out of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. MST. Murray State is 27-5 on the season.

The national tournament will take place in Lubbock, Texas, as Lubbock Christian University and the Cougars have made the national tournament field every year since 2017. WNCC earned two automatic berths as Region IX champions (2017 and 2019) and atlarge berths the other four years.

In 2020, the Cougars garnered the highest seed in school history with a 7th seed with an at-large berth. WNCC was scheduled to play the winner of the Florida SouthWestern College and Murray State winner. That year, however, was hit my COVID and the tournament was postponed on March 12 and later canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Cougars enter the national tournament

at 27-2 while the Aggies of Murray State are 27-5.

The winner of the WNCC and Murray State contest will face No. 5 Wabash Valley State on Friday, March 18 at 2 p.m.

“At this point I don’t know how much a number beside a name means,” WNCC coach Chad Gibney said. “We are just going to take it one day at a time and we have to play a very talented, well-coached Murray State team.”

The players definitely know what they need to do because all 24 teams in the field are capable of winning on any given day.

“There will be some good competition that we will face,” Douglas said, “especially with it being the best teams in the nation competing against each other.”

WNCC and Murray State have played each other three times since the early 2000s. The first time was in 2001-02 when WNCC won 75-49. The second meeting happened on November 39, 2005 when WNCC won going

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WNCC National Tourney History 1993 -- 0-2 1995 -- 0-2 1998 -- 2-2 (4th) 2001 -- 0-2 2003 -- 3-1 (2nd) 2004 -- 2-2 (6th) 2005 -- 1-2 2006 -- 2-2 (8th) 2008 -- 2-2 (8th) 2013 -- 0-1 2014 -- 1-1 2015 -- 0-1 2017 -- 0-1 2018 -- 0-1 2019 -- 0-1 2020 -- canceled COVID 2021 -- 2-1 (Elite 8) 2022 -- ??

Shanti Henry brings the ball up the floor during a game with McCook Community College. WNCC will be making their sixth trip to the national tourney.

Nationals: ...

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away 92-56. The third encounter saw Murray State top the Cougars 5054 on December 3, 2012, at the Air Force Prep Classic.

Panem said for them to be successful, they will need a team effort to win.

“Everyone at nationals is good. It really is the best of the best,” Panem said. “They all earned a right to be there and worked for it. At nationals we need to play together and focus on being aggressive. We also need to lock in on defense and to our job.”

It should be a good battle between WNCC and Murray State. The two teams have faced each three times in the past and WNCC leads the series 2-1.

The first meeting between the two schools came in 2001-02 when WNCC won 75-49. The second meeting came on November 29, 2005, at the Air Force Prep Classic with the Cougars winning 92-56. The third match-up happened Dec. 3, 2012 and Murray State earned the win 59-54.

This hear, it could be an interesting game.

WNCC ran off 21 straight wins before being upset in the semifinals of the Region IX tournament by Eastern Wyoming College 69-49.

Murray State enters having won 10 straight games including defeating No. 2 seed Eastern

Oklahoma State College 77-64 in the regional championship game.

Murray State’s last loss came on Jan. 31 when Northern Oklahoma Enid defeated them 89-79.

The Cougars themselves lost just twice all season. Besides the loss to EWC at regionals, the team fell to College of Southern Idaho on November 20 in a high-scoring affair 95-89.

What these two teams bring to the table on Wednesday are two rather even teams. Both teams have some height with Murray State having three players 6-foot or taller and the Cougars have five players.

The tall timber for the Aggies include 6-1 freshman Jumoke Adaramoye, 6-2 freshman Sierra Headquist, and 6-0 freshman Reese Webb.

The Aggies also have three players averaging in double figures. They include Alena Wilson at 15.2 points. She also is pulling down 7.3 rebounds a game. Then there is Alaijah Stewart averaging 13.6 points and has buried 97 3-pointers to lead the team in that category.

The final double-digit scorer is Briana Knabe at 11.6 points a game.

Then there is sharp drop off with the next play averaging 6.7 points in Holli Lindley.

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All in the Numbers

2

The number of Region IX titles the Cougar baseball team as won. WNCC baseball won their first in 2007 and the second last year (2021).

42

The number of strikeouts the WNCC softball pitching staff has this season in 16 games played. Lexi Butterfield leads the way with 24 strikeouts.

93

The number of blocked shots the WNCC women’s team has this season. Aminata Zie leads the way with 25 followed by Rashaan Smith with 24.

222

Number of total 3-pointers the men’s basketball team made this season in 31 games played. Carter Brown led the team with 50 3-pointers followed by Agwa Nywesh with 49 treys and Biko Johnson in third with 36 3-pointers.

275

Number of putouts the WNCC baseball team has so far this season in 14 games played. Leading the team in putouts is Dillon Fabricus with 46 followed by Dylan Hoard with 43.

Amani Brown dribbles to the hold during a game with Otero Junior College in January.

On the Cover:

The WNCC women’s basketball team reacts after finding out that they were selected as an at-large team for the national tournament that beings March 16 in Lubbock, Texas

459

The number of total wins in the Cougar baseball team’s tenure going into the spring break games in Arizona. The baseball team is off to a 6-8 start this season, which is one of the best starts in their history.

Nationals: ...

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The Cougars are a little bit more balanced with five averaging in double figures or above nine points a game.

Douglas leads the way at 18.1 points and needs just 53 more points to reach the 1,000 career mark, which would only the fourth Cougar women’s player to reach 1,000 career points. Douglas is also shooting 84.9 percent from the charity stripe.

Amani Brown, who earned NJCAA All-American honors a year ago at Vincennes University, is averaging 12.1 points a contest and has buried 37 3-pointers.

Next is Martrice Brooks, who is averaging 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds a contest.

Aminta Zie, the 6-3 post player is next at 10 points a contest. Zie is also pulling down 8.3 rebounds a contest. Zie is making 69.1 percent of her shots which leads the NJCAA. Then there is Shanti Henry, who is averaging 9.3 points a contest. Henry leads the team with 56 made 3-pointers this season and has 86 made treys on the season, needing just 14 more to finish with 100 made 3-pointers, which would make her one of just six players to have made 100 3-pointers in her career.

The key to the game, though, is which team plays the better defense. WNCC is holding their opponents to 56.7 points a contest.

Murray State is allowing 60.7 points a contest.

Offensively the team teams are high scoring.

Murray State is averaging 79.3 points a contest while WNCC is scoring at an 88.3 clip, which is second in the nation.

The team that leads the nation is Wabash Valley at 89.1 points a game. The winner of the WNCC and Murray State game will face Wabash Valley in the sweet 16 on Friday at 2 p.m. MST. Panem agrees that defense will be the key in moving on in the tournament.

“We must defend well and make sure if we get beat, it’s because the other team is better,” the sophomore from Broomfield, Colorado, said. “We cannot beat ourselves. We have to be aggressive and assertive and play together. Defense wins championships and that speaks for itself. We have to be focused on our matchups and the rest will come.”

Wabash Valley, who the winner will face on Friday, was one of eight teams to receive a firstround bye. Wabash Valley is seeded fifth in the tournament.

The eight teams that received the firstround bye include top-seeded Three Rivers

Payton Fields drives to the bucket during a game in November against North Platte Community College. The Cougars open national tournament play on March 16 at 7 p.m. MST against Murray State College.

Yara Garcia dribbles the ball during a game with Trinidad State College in January. The Cougars play at nationals on March 16.

Community College followed by No. 2 Shelton State, No. 3 Georgia Highlands, No. 4 Northwest Florida State, No. 5 Wabash Valley, No. 6 College of Southern Idaho, No. 7 Blinn College, and No. 8 Arizona Western.

First-round games will be played Wednesday and Thursday, March 16-17. Besides WNCC’s game on Wednesday, other firstround match-ups on March 16 include No. 16 Chipola College against No. 17 Tyler Junior College at 9 a.m.; No. 9 South Georgia Tech against No. 24 Monroe College at 11 a.m.; No. 15 Moberly Area Community College vs. No. 18 Eastern Florida State at 1 p.m.; No. 10 New Mexico Junior College against No. 23 Jones

College at 3 p.m.; No. 13 South Plains against No. 20 North Dakota State College of Science at 5 p.m. and then WNCC against Murray State to wrap up the first day.

The rest of the first round will be played on the second day, Thursday, March 17. Those two games will pit No. 14 Casper College against No. 19 Hutchinson, and No. 11 Trinity Valley Community College against No. 22 Walters State at 11 a.m.

The tournament continues with quarterfinal matches Saturday, March 19 with the semifinal matches on Sunday, March 20. The championship is slated for Monday, March 21 in Lubbock, Texas.

Women’s Basketball National Tourney History 1993 It was the first appearance at the national tournament for the Cougar women and the national tournament was held in Tyler, Texas.

WNCC opened tournament play against Independence Community College, which had a starting line-up of 6-7, 6-6, 6-0, and 5-9 with three Polish players. WNCC trailed 3224 at halftime and fell in the contest 67-46.

Renee Rayton led the team with 16 points and 13 rebounds. That moved the Cougars into the consolation bracket and in a match against No. 1 Howard College, who was upset in the first round. That game saw Howard only lead 30-21 at halftime and Howard won 6046. Rayton led the Cougars in scoring with 12 pints followed by Terri Turpin with 10 points.

1995 The WNCC women were making their second appearance at the national championship in three years. The tournament was played in Tyler, Texas, and saw the Cougars almost win their first game at nationals. The opening game was against Pearl River Community College and WNCC led 30-27 at halftime. The second half saw Pearl River outscore WNCC 39-26 to earn the 66-56 win. Shannon St. Martin led the Cougars in scoring with 15 followed by Amber Bray with 14. That pushed WNCC into the consolation bracket and a match-up with Central Arizona College that saw Central Arizona lead WNCC 41-22 at the break. The final was 80-71 where WNCC outscored Central Arizona 49-39. Amber Bray led the Cougars with 16 points followed by Ceilien Rivera with 10 points.

1998 This trip to the national tournament saw the Cougars finish among the top four teams in the nation with a 2-2 record. The tournament was held in Salina, Kansas. WNCC’s trek to the Top Four finish started the tournament with a come-from-behind win over Cincinnati State Tech College 56-52. WNCC trailed 28-20 at halftime. The second half belonged the Lady Cougars as they outscored Cincinnati State 36-24 for the win. Corrissa Johnson led the Cougars with 16 points followed by Ashley Strickland with 12. Next up for the Cougars was Gulf Coast Community College and the Cougars used strong defense with under 10 seconds to play get the 67-66 win, moving them into the Final Four. Kyra Eberhard led the Cougars in her first start of the year with 18 points. In the semifinals, the Cougars faced Central Arizona and the Cougars trailed at halftime 45-15 and fell 77-50. Corrissa

Johnson led the Cougars in scoring with 17 points. That moved the Cougars into the third-place game against Howard College and the Lady Hawks led 37-19 at halftime and Howard claimed third place with the 75-51 win. Johnson led WNCC with 21 points. WNCC finished the year at 31-6.

2001 The Cougars started the year with a .500 record at 5-5 as they started December. By the end of the year, the Cougars won three games at the regional tournament at Cougar Palace, topping Northeast Nebraska 66-52 for the title. At the national tournament in Salina, Kansas, WNCC had some dramatic games.

The Cougars opened with a first-round loss to Tyler Junior College 62-58. The pushed them into the consolation bracket where they lost a heartbreaker in overtime 67-66 to end their season at 24-9.

Bridgett Murdoch holds the runner-up trophy during the 2003 season after the Cougars took second place at nationals 2003 This was the year the women’s basketball team made history as they became the first Cougar team to play for a national title. WNCC entered the national tournament with a 31-2 record and opened with an easy win over Crowder College 65-46. The Cougars then took out Hiwassee College 54-48 putting them in the semifinals. The semifinals saw the Cougars earn a hard-fought 61-56 win to move into the title game. The championship was all Gulf Coast as the Cougars fell 81-42.

2004 The 2004 team had a 23-game win streak to end the regular season after winning the regional tourney. The Cougars then went to the national tournament in Salina, Kansas, and had Vincennes University in the first round and got the win 58-54 to move into the Elite Eight. The next round they faced Trinity Valley and fell 83-56. In a consolation game, the Cougars then faced Seward County and captured the close game 61-58 to put WNCC into the 5th-place game. That came saw another close game, but WNCC fell to Three Rivers 63-53 to finish 6th and 30-7 overall.

2005 The 2005 team went through the regular season with just one blemish came Feb. 12 at Casper 61-57. At regionals, WNCC won all three games including topping Casper 4836 to win the regional title. At nationals in Salina, Kansas, the Cougars opened against Georgia Perimeter with a 77-67 win behind 16 points from Simone Santos and then fell to Central Arizona College 85-45 where Brittany Jackson had 18 points. The Cougars then were eliminated in a game against Cincinnati State 67-55 behind Santos’ 10 points.

2006 The 2006 team also had a outstanding regular season, finishing at 30-2 and a 45-41 win over Casper in the regional title contest. At nationals in Salina, the Cougars finished 10th after going 2-2 at nationals. WNCC opened in falling to Chattanooga State 70-59. In the consolation bracket, the Cougars held on in a defensive game to down Georgia Perimeter 45-44. WNCC won the next game as they topped Lake Region State 53-34. WNCC then lost in the 9th-place game, falling to ArkansasFt. Smith 66-64.

2008 The 2008 season saw the team go 2-2 after falling in the consolation finals. The Cougars opened the tournament with a close 68-62 loss to Gulf Coast in the first-round. Chelsea Lyles led the team with 18 points. The loss dropped the Cougars into the consolation bracket where they won a high scoring contest against Monroe Community College 84-81, hanging on in the final seconds. Lyles scored 22 points for the Cougars. That win put the Cougars up against Walters State and WNCC won a thrilling game 55-54 as Emma Beddome scored 22 points. The 7th-place game saw Shelton State top the Cougars 66-46. WNCC

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Women’s Basketball National Tourney History trailed 41-21 at the half but went tooth-andnail with Shelton State in the second half, but couldn’t make up the first half deficit. Chelsea Lyles led the with 10 points.

went on to win the national tournament.

WNCC was led in scoring by Merle Wiehl with 17 points in the loss that saw the Cougars end the season at 29-5.

2013 This year the Cougars won the Region IX title over Gillette College and entered the national tournament in Salina, Kansas, with a 2014 record. At nationals, WNCC held a 37-33 lead at halftime before falling 74-68 to ASA College. Mikayla Brower led the Cougars with 17 points, including going 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

2019 The Cougars captured the Region IX title this season and entered the tournament with a 29-3. The team battled Hutchinson Community College and it was a battle in the first half. WNCC trailed after one quarter 2117 and trailed at halftime 37-31. The third quarter saw Hutch widen the lead at 61-44 and lost the game 81-60. Merle Wiehl led the Cougars with 17 points in the loss.

2014 WNCC earned a trip to the national tournament after surviving Western Wyoming 69-67 in the title game. At nationals, WNCC opened with a close 63-60 win over State Fair Community College before falling to Trinity Valley in the second round 77-48. WNCC finished the year at 31-5.

2015 In the last year of the national tournament at Salina, Kansas, the Cougars dropped a game to South Georgia Technical College 70-57 to finish the season a 31-3 overall.

2017 This was a special year for Cougar women as Chad Gibney was named the interim head coach of the program in January and the Cougars came together in holding Eastern Wyoming scoreless in the final seconds to earn the Region IX tournament and a berth in the national tournament. At nationals, fell to Jones College 64-42 as Sladjana Rakovic and Bree Paulson led the way with nine points each. WNCC finished the year at 28-5.

2018 The 2018 team had to endure utter tension during the seeding show. The Cougars didn’t know if they would go in and when the final pair of games popped up, they found themselves into the national tournament as the 22nd seed. WNCC entered with a a 29-4 record. At nationals in Lubbock, Texas, the Cougars faced Tallahassee Community College, who also had an at-large bid. That game was one of the highest games the Cougars have played in tournament history.

WNCC and Tallahasee battled tooth-and-nail.

Tallahassee had a 19-18 lead after one quarter and the two teams were knotted at 41-41 at halftime. The Cougars held a 66-65 lead after three quarters. in the final period, Tallahassee out-scored the Cougars 32-19. Tallahassee

2020 WNCC entered the tournament after receiving the No. 7 seed and a first round bye and it all happened as the Cougars had to get an at-large bid. While, as the team was preparing to leave, on March 12 the tournament was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. The tournament was rescheduled for April, but the first part of April, the tournament was canceled.

2021 This year was special as the Cougars finished with a top eight finish (tied for fifth) and they were the third Region IX team that made the tournament after falling to Casper College in the semifinals. Once the Cougars got in the tournament, they made plenty of noise. The Cougars opened the tournament on April 19 against Iowa Western Community College and earned the hard-fought battle 79-70 after leading 34-33 at halftime. WNCC was led in scoring by Ashley Panem with 22 points followed by Ale’Jah Douglas with 17.

That set up a game in the quarterfinals with No. 1 Jones College and it was one where the national tournament was talking about the Cougars. WNCC led the top-ranked teams after one quarter 16-13 and then held a commanding 36-24 lead at halftime. Jones came back and outscored the Cougars 25-19 in the third quarter and WNCC held a slim 55-49 lead.

The fourth quarter was a defensive 10 minutes as the teams combined for just 19 points. The Cougars led 59-52 with four minutes to play.

Jones went on an 8-0 run and took its first lead since the first quarter with 29.4 seconds to play on a field goal to lead 60-59. WNCC worked the ball for a shot and that was when Buell, who wears No. 13, hit a 15-footer over the outstretched arms of Endia Holliday with 13 seconds to play. Jones missed a shot and WNCC got the rebound and Ashley Panem was fouled with 5.1 seconds. Panem calmly hit both charity tosses for the 63-60 lead.

Jones called a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt and a contested 3-pointer in the corner came up short as it hit the front iron and WNCC sealed the win. WNCC was led in scoring by Douglas with 27 points followed by 10 points from Ky Buell.

The moved the Cougars into the Elite Eight and a battle with Three Rivers Community College. Three Rivers led 21-15 after one quarter and took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring WNCC 23-10 for a 44-25 lead at halftime. Back came the Cougars as they outscored Three Rivers 2011 in the third quarter to slice the deficit to 55-45 and then outscored Three Rivers in the fourth quarter 26-24, but came up short in falling 79-71. Lidsey Mahoukou led the Cougars in scoring with 19 points followed by Panem with 14.

SECOND ROUND

7

2

FIRST ROUND

Moberly Area

Wed-Thurs, March 16-17

4

3

Trinity Valley

21 Murray State

Walters State

Game 8

6

Hutchinson

Thursday - 10:00 AM CT

Game 7

Casper

Thursday - 12:00 PM CT

Game 16 Friday - 7:00 PM CT

Game 14

Southern Idaho

Friday - 3:00 PM CT

Wabash Valley

Game 20 Saturday - 7:00 PM CT

Game 19 Saturday - 5:00 PM CT

Game 15 Friday - 5:00 PM CT

Game 13

Jones

Game 6

5

NJCAA CHAMPION

Georgia Highlands

Friday - 1:00 PM CT

Northwest Florida

Game 22 Sunday - 6:00 PM CT

Game 21 Sunday - 4:00 PM CT

Wednesday - 8:00 PM CT

12 Western Nebraska

20 North Dakota SCS

Wednesday - 6:00 PM CT

Game 5

13 South Plains

24 Monroe College

Game 4 Wednesday - 4:00 PM CT

New Mexico

Game 2

Monday - 8:00 PM ET | 7:00 PM CT | 6:00 PM MT

Game 12 Thursday - 8:00 PM CT

Game 10

Thursday - 4:00 PM CT

Blinn

Eastern Florida

Wednesday - 12:00 PM CT

South Georgia Tech

Arizona Western

Game 18 Saturday - 3:00 PM CT

Game 17 Saturday - 1:00 PM CT

Game 3

Game 11

Shelton State

Thurs-Fri, March 17-18

Thursday - 6:00 PM CT

Saturday, March 19

QUARTERFINALS

Game 9

NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SEMIFINALS Sunday, March 20

Wednesday- 2:00 PM CT

17 Tyler

9

FINALS Monday, March 21

Game 1

8

SEMIFINALS Sunday, March 20

Thursday - 2:00 PM CT

Three Rivers

Saturday, March 19

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday - 10:00 AM CT

16 Chipola

1

SECOND ROUND

Thurs-Fri, March 17-18

FIRST ROUND

Wed-Thurs, March 16-17

22

11

19

14

23

10

18

15

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Men’s basketball makes run at regionals, falls in semifinals to Trinidad State

he Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team made a run in the Region IX tournament earlier in March, before falling in the semifinals to Trinidad State College.

The Cougars opened regional play with a first-round road win over Lamar Community College 79-68 where they opened with a 10-0 run before leading 36-32 at halftime.

The second half saw Lamar take it’s first lead of the game after opening the half with a 9-2 run to lead 41-38. From there it was back and forth as Sawyer hit a 3-pointer to tied the game. Lamar came right back with a 6-0 run to lead 47-41.

WNCC answered with a 7-0 run behind back-to-back treys from Sawyer and Johnson for a 48-47 lead. The lead see-sawed between the two teams. Lamar held a 63-60 lead with about five minutes to play. That was when WNCC ignited on offense with a 14-0 run that saw Johnson and Nywesh hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Koang put down a dunk for a 74-63 lead with about 2:20 to play.

WNCC never looked back as they hit clutch free throws for the win.

Chancelor Johnson and Koang led the team with 19 points while Nywesh had 15.

That win moved the Cougars into the single-site tournament in LaJunta, Colorado, and a match-up with North No. 1 seed Western Wyoming Community College.

But that wasn’t an issue for the Cougar men as they upset the Mustangs in overtime 85-82 to move into the semifinals.

The Western Wyoming game was intense. Western Wyoming held a slim 3432 halftime lead.

Just like the start of the game, Koang got the first points in the second half. After an Nywesh three and a tie at 37-37, the Mustangs went on a 6-0 run to lead 43-37.

Western Wyoming kept their distance as they continued to lead for the majority of the half. WNCC, however, weren’t going to give in so easily.

The Cougars came within one or two points multiple times and with 8:55 remaining in regulation, Koang got the sec-

Agwa Nywesh dribbles to the bucket against Lamar during a game in January.

WNCC lost in the semis at the regional tourney.

ond technical of the game when down 5855. It wouldn’t take long for WNCC to tie the game at 59, 63 and 67.

The Mustangs went on another 6-0 run to lead 73-67 before Engel called a timeout to stop the momentum.

Nywesh was fouled on a 3-pointer, making all of his free throws and then Koang made a bucket after making space in the key to go up.

With Western Wyoming up 76-74 and under 30 seconds left, Biko Johnson intentionally fouled D’Auntray Pierce.

Pierce missed both free throws and then a misstep trying to inbound the ball gave WNCC the possession with 21.2 seconds.

This gave the Cougars just enough time to tie the game on a Carl Thorpe bucket.

In overtime, the game was tied at 82 with 30 seconds left. The Cougars held the ball as long as they could as time and the shot clock were ticking. Nywesh would hit a 3-pointer, giving the Mustangs the ball back with 17 seconds left. None of the

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Biko Johnson shoots the ball during a game earlier this year.

Men’s Basketball: ...

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shots would go down, giving WNCC the win.

WNCC head coach Billy Engel said Nywesh’s shot was clutch.

“Agwa’s shot was huge to win us the game,” Engel said. “We had a plan to break their zone and the kids did exactly what they were supposed to do and it led to a wide open three for Agwa.”

The Cougars had four in double figures, led by Koang with 27 points. Nywesh followed with 22 and was 7-for-7 at the free throw line. Johnson had 14 and Brown finished with 10.

That sent the Cougars into the semifinals and a match-up with Trinidad State.

Despite a gallant run, the Cougars came up short, falling 67-61.

For the Cougar men, they were in the driver’s seat in the first half as they held a 41-36 lead. A big reason for the Cougars’ halftime lead was their outside shooting where they buried eight 3-pointers. Trinidad had just four treys in the first half.

The second half was back and forth

for the first five minutes. WNCC last led 45-44 on a Carl Thorpe bucket. That was when the Trojans went on a 10-0 run to lad 54-45 with about six minutes to play.

WNCC had just four points in the first 14 minutes of the second half.

WNCC finally started to see some shots fall as Them Koang hit a bucket to stop the Trinidad run. WNCC got back to within six points, 58-52, on a Agwa Nywesh 3-pointer with about three minutes to play. The Cougars were still hanging in there as they got the deficit down to five points, 66-61, on a Biko Johnson 3-pointer, but it was a little too late.

WNCC had two in double figures, led

by Nywesh with 17 points followed by Biko Johnson with 12.

Trinidad State went on to win the Region IX title with a last-second shot against Otero College 95-94 to earn the automatic berth to the national tournament March 14-19.

Two Cougars earned Region IX all-tournament honors with Nywesh and Koang.

Rodney Sawyer dunks the ball in a game against Otero.

Cougar Athletes of the Week

Female Athletes of the Week

Sept. 1............ Erica Fava, volleyball Sept. 9........Macey Boggs, volleyball Sept. 16............Ale Meoni, volleyball Sept. 22... Juliana Oliveira, volleyball Oct. 13............ Litzi Delarosa, soccer Oct. 29............ Erica Fava, volleyball Nov. 17.......Shanti Henry, basketball Dec. 1... Ale’Jah Douglas, basketball Dec. 8.....Rashaan Smith, basketball Jan. 13.......Amani Brown, basketball Jan. 20..... Ashley Panem, basketball Jan. 31......... Aminata Zie, basketball Feb. 18. Ale’Jah Douglas, basketball March 8........... Erin Hanafin, softball

Carter Brown looks for an open player during the Eastern Wyoming game in November.

Male Athletes of the Week

Sept. 1..........Rodrigo Cercal, soccer Sept. 9............ Jacob Collins, soccer Sept. 15......... Imanal Munoz, soccer Sept. 27.............Paul Cerros, soccer Oct. 13.............Yael Armenta, soccer Oct. 29..........Rodrigo Cercal, soccer Nov. 17.......Them Koang, basketball Dec. 1.... Rodney Sawyer, basketball Dec. 8.......... Carl Thorpe, basketball Jan. 13..... Agwa Nywesh, basketball Jan. 20.......Biko Johnson, basketball Jan. 31......Chancelor Johnson, bball Feb. 18.. Rodney Sawyer, basketball March 8...... Eli Hernandez, baseball

WNCC softball hot and cold in games

T

he WNCC softball team have been up and down in doubleheaders the games in March so far.

On Saturday, March 12, the Cougar women split conference games with Lamar Community College. The first game saw WNCC plate 12 runs in the third inning as they cruised to the 18-3 win behind the pitching of Lexi Butterfield while in the second game, it was the other way as Lamar held WNCC to just four hits in earning the 9-0 win.

The first game saw the Cougars plate two runs in the first inning as Macyn Hartman and Mackenzie Bakel reached base via a hits-batsman and a walk. Hartman scored on a fly out and then Bakel scored on a ground out.

Lamar sliced the lead in half with a run in the second. WNCC responded with 12 runs in the third to go up 14-1. The big inning started when Erin Hanafin walked and scored on a Butterfield single. Emma Schweitzer and DemiRae Woolsey were hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taylor Klein and Bailey Blanchard each walked to bring in one run. Victoria Wharton scored two on a single for a 7-1 lead. Hartman followed with a run-scoring single followed by Bakel smacking a double to score Hartman to make it 10-1.

The lead widened after Butterfield doubled in two runners. Klein then ripped a triple to score Butterfield and Schweitzer to make it 14-1.

Lamar came back with three in the third to make it 14-3, but the Cougars added two runs each in the fourth and fifth.

The fourth inning saw Schweitzer deliver a 2-out single to score Hartman and Hanafin to make it 16-3.

WNCC’s two fifth-inning runs saw Bella Mumford start off with a single followed

by Wharton with a run-scoring double.

Wharton scored on a Hartman single to make it 18-3.

WNCC finished with 12 hits. Wharton led the way with three hits including two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Three other Cougars had two hits each.

Hartman had two singles with three runs scored and three RBIs, while Bakel had a double with two runs scored and an RBI.

Head coach Katelyn Groves talks to the team in between games during the Lamar Community College conference contests March 12. (photo by Sara Klein)

Victoria Wharton gets ready to hit the ball during their game with Lamar on March 12. The Cougars split contests on the day. (photo by Sara Klein) Butterfield had a double with two runs scored and three RBIs. Klein finished with a triple and three runs scored, while Hanifan had three runs scored. Schweitzer had two runs scored and three RBIs with her single.

Butterfield picked up the win in the circle, going all five innings in allowing six hits with three runs scored and striking out two and walking just one.

The second game saw Lamar limit the

Cougars to just four hits and the Runnin’ Lopes defense made plays to hold the Cougars without a run after WNCC plated 18 in the first game.

Neither team scored in the first two innings. It was the third inning that Lamar broke the ice with five runs and then added four more in the fourth for the 9-0 lead.

WNCC had a chance in the fifth to keep the game going when Bella Coffman had a double and Mackenzie Bakel delivered a single. WNCC loaded the bases, but the Cougars couldn’t get a run across to keep the game going.

WNCC had just four hits in the contest. Bakel had two hits in the contest and Coffman had the only extra base hit.

Win one and lose one was the case in the Region IX Pod tourney the first weekend in March as well. On the first day of the Region IX Pod play on March 4, Hartman had five hits and seven RBIs, including a home run and a double as the Cougars pounded out 29 hits in a 26-4 win over Luna Community College. The Luna win was in the second game of the day.

The first game saw Otero earn the 9-1 win over the Cougars.

Hartman’s big day put her name up in the record book for a game performance.

Her seven RBIs are tied for second with seven others. The most RBIs in a game was

by Jacqui Cappuccilli set in 2011 against

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Wyoming. Hartman’s five hits is tied for third with seven other players. The most hits in a contest by a player were six by Cappuccilli in 2011 and Katelyn Groves in 2009.

As a team, the 26 runs scored is tied for third in the record book along with the 2010, who scored 26 against McCook. The record is 29 runs set in 2011 against the University of Wyoming club team while second place is 28 runs set in 2016 against Southeast Community College.

The second game offense saw the Cougars score in all four innings they batted in. WNCC scored three in the first and two in the second to grab a 5-0 lead. It was the third inning that saw the Cougars open the game with 13 runs on 14 hits before plating eight runs in the fourth.

Hartman led off the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to start the scoring. After that, Bakel single and scored on a Coffman single. Hanafin later scored on a Schweitzer single for the 3-0 lead.

WNCC added two more in the second as Coffman had a solo home run and Bakel scored on a Lexi Butterfield grounder.

The 13 runs the Cougars scored in the third all started when Schweitzer led off the inning with a solo home run. After that, Blanchard hit a one-out double followed by Wharton single. Both came in to score on a Hartman single. The score ballooned to 10-0 when Bakel scored on a Butterfield single and 11-0 as Hanafin singled in Butterfield.

The third inning continued as Schweitzer doubled to score Coffman and Hanafin and then Blanchard singles to score Schweitzer and Sianna Lewis for a 15-0 lead. Bree Henson then had a pinchhit single and scored on a Hartman double followed by Butterfield doubling home Hartman for the 18-0 lead.

The fourth inning saw WNCC score their eight runs all with two outs. Wharton started the scoring when she had a run-scoring single to score Hanafin. Hartman scored two more with a single and then Butterfield had her second double to score another run to make it 23-2. Bella Mumford then had a pinch-hit single to score Butterfield and Mumford scored on

Lexi Butterfield delivers a pitch during a North Platte scrimmage during the fall. The Cougars will be in Texas March 14-19 for Spring Break games. a 2-run Hanafin home run.

WNCC had eight players with multihit games. Hartman was 5-for-5 with four runs scored, seven RBIs, a double, and home run. Schweitzer and Bakel each had four hits. Bakel had a double with four runs scored, while Schweitzer had a double and home run along with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Butterfield. Hanafin, and Blanchard each had three hits. Butterfield had six RBIs with two runs scored, and two doubles. Hanafin had a home run with four runs scored and three RBIs, while Blanchard had a double with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Coffman and Wharton each had two hits in the win. Coffman had a home run with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Wharton had two runs scored and a RBI. Katie McMillan picked up the win in the circle, going 4 1/3 innings in scattering four hits and giving up four runs while striking out one. Lexi Parker finished off the game in allowing one hit and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.

The first game against Otero saw WNCC manage just three hits and the only run they got was a solo home run by Hanafin in the second. Besides that hit, the only other hits came in the third on a Wharton single and then the fourth on a Bakel single.

WNCC then split games on March 5 of

Bree Hansen prepares to field the ball during a fall scrimmage against North Platte Community College in October. the Pod play. The first game saw WNCC score eight, first-inning runs in downing Trinidad State College 10-2 behind strong pitching from Katie McMillan.

The second saw the Cougars mount a furious late-inning comeback against Lamar Community College before falling 9-8.

The first game saw the Cougars take down the Trojans, a team that won the Re-

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Continued from previous page gion IX Tournament last year as they outhit the Trojans 14-4.

McMillan pitched a complete game giving up two runs, two walks, four hits, and striking out four.

Complimenting McMillan was an aggressive offensive attack where the majority of the runs came in the first inning as the Cougars scored eight of their 10 runs.

Hartman singled to start WNCC off before Bakel got hit by a pitch. Butterfield loaded up the bases with a line drive single to left field. The first run came from Coffman, who got hit by a pitch before Hanafin brought two more runners in on a single to center field, bringing the score to 3-1 in the bottom of the first.

WNCC still had the bases loaded when Schweitzer walked. DemiRae Woolsey cleared the bases on a triple to extend the lead to 6-1. Woolsey scored two batters later on a single from Wharton. Bakel’s next at-bat gave WNCC their final tally of the inning when she grounded out to the

Taylor Klein throws the ball to first base during a fall scrimmage against North Platte Community College in October. second baseman, scoring Wharton.

With the score 8-1 in the bottom of the second, the Cougars had two on base

when Schweitzer reached on an error to score Coffman.

Hanafin scored the final run of the game for the Cougars on a Bailey Blanchard single to the shortstop.

Hanafin went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs as Wharton went 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run.

Game two saw WNCC come close to a comeback in a 9-8 loss to the Runnin’ Lopes. The teams both had 10 hits but the difference in the game was the four errors committed by the Cougars versus the two by the Runnin’ Lopes.

The Cougars scored one in the second and fourth, two in the sixth, and four in the final inning.

Down 9-4 with runners on second and third, Hanafin takes the fifth pitch of her at-bat and hits a 3-run homerun to center field.

Hanafin led WNCC, going 3-for-4 with a triple and home run, three RBIs and scored three runs. The Cougars also saw Butterfield and Bella Mumford hit doubles and Blanchard hit a triple.

Future Cougars, Cougar Sophomores Headed To Other Schools Newcomers signed for 2022-23 Volleyball Emmalei Mapu.....................Kahuku, Hawaii Charli Blackman.....Auckland, New Zealand Maya Angelova............. Kyustendil, Bulgaria Shanelle Martinez.......... San Antonio, Texas Megan Bewley............Scottsbluff, Nebraska Men’s Soccer Pedro Roche.............................. Puerto Rico Jason Escamilla..........Scottsbluff, Nebraska Adolpho Rojas..................Denver, Colorado Pablo Dominguez................................Spain Wellington Quieroz Xavier...................Brazil Paul Leroy.........................................France Eduardo De Oliviera............................Brazil Joao Brasilliano...................................Brazil Hernan Burdles.....................................Chile Dikasi-Dube Nseke........................ Cameron Women’s Soccer Aileen Perez.....................Denver, Colorado Lesley Vasquez................Denver, Colorado

Tania Razo........................Denver, Colorado Summer Parnell.............Hastings, Nebraska Jackeline Castro...............Denver, Colorado Sykla McConnell............Elizabeth, Colorado Debora Pires Lopes.............................Brazil Yasmin Watson...............................Australia Taila Viera............................................Brazil Sara Rebecca......................................Brazil Flavia Fernandes.................................Brazil Matilda Kwao..................................... Ghana Softball Alex Jones..................Scottsbluff, Nebraska Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

Where Cougar Sophomores Are Headed Volleyball Macey Boggs................. U. of Wyoming (DI) Men’s Soccer Ygor Brito..........................Judson U. (NAIA) Women’s Basketball Ale’Jah Douglas.................. Clemson U. (DI) Baseball Owen Vanthillo...........Henderson State (DII) Harold Baez.................. Pittsburg State (DII) Jordon Rollins........ Mississippi College (DII) Current Sophomores, please contact Mark Rein via text at 308-631-0459 or email when you decide to attend a specific college.

High School seniors, if you are coming to play sports at WNCC, please send Mark Rein information on high school, hometown, height, and which sport you are planning playing.

T

Cougar baseball off to a strong start

he WNCC baseball team off to a 3-1 start in the Empire Conference after taking three of four from the Otero College Rattlers the first week of May. The Cougars opened the series on March when they won the opening two with identical 3-0 scores. Then, the next day, the Cougars fell 12-10 in the first game before winning 9-1 to close out the series.

The identical 3-0 wins were impressive pitching performances. The first game saw Dawson Hurford strike out nine in leading the Cougars to the win. The second game saw Corbin Kirk and Owen Vanthillo combined on 13 strikeouts to lead the Cougars to the victory.

“Pitching was phenomenal today,” Hurford said. “We limited our walks which was definitely what got us to know where we should be. My limiting the walks, we threw less pitches which let us go longer.

We just played well.”

Not only the pitching, the entire team played well collectively.

“We definitely played well as a unit.

We wanted to play for each other especially this being our first conference games,” Hurford said. “It is huge to get these conference wins to start off the season. It just brings energy and momentum, and we just need to carry off of it and hopefully we will see where this goes.”

The first game was highlighted by pitchers Hurford and Brian Bruxvoort as they struck out 10 and limited Otero to just three hits. The two pitchers also walked just one.

Offensively, the Cougars had eight hits with Eli Hernandez leading the way with three of the hits, all singles. Joe Kinneberg had a double in the win while Max Adam had a triple.

WNCC scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings and the way the pitchers were pitching, that was all the offense they really needed.

The second inning saw Kinneberg double and score on a Drew Book single for the 1-0 lead. WNCC made it 2-0 with a run in the third when Adam tripled and scored on a Jordan Rollins single.

WNCC closed out the scoring with a

Jack Jones points to his teammates as he round third and comes home after hitting a home run in a game against Otero College on March 4. WNCC took single run in the fifth when Adam walked and scored on a Jack Jones single.

The second game saw an even stellar pitching performance from Kirk and Vanthillo as the two had 13 strikeouts and allowed just two hits. The two pitchers walked just one.

Both teams didn’t find offense until the fifth inning when WNCC plated two runs.

The fifth started when Ethan Johnson walked and then Quinn McCafferty was hit by a pitch. Johnson came in to score on a single by Adam and McCafferty scored on a single by Jordan Rollins.

The final run was in the sixth when Howard had a one-out solo home run.

WNCC was led at the plate by Adam with two hits including a double and a RBI. Howard had a home run in the game.

Then, on March 4, the Cougars should have won twice, but they didn’t, falling 1210 in the opener before winning the second game 9-1.

The first game saw Otero jump out to an 11-0 lead only to watch the Cougars score 10 late runs before Otero earned the 12-10 win.

The second game saw Noah Baumann toss a strong contest in striking out nine in six innings of work in helping the Cougars

to the 9-1 win.

The second game saw WNCC score runs in the first five innings. The Cougars put up three runs in the first as Max Adam doubled and Jack Jones walked. Then Eli Hernandez delivered a 3-run home run for the 3-0 lead.

WNCC added one in the second on a Jones run-scoring single for the 4-1 lead.

The Cougars plated another three in the third as Joe Kinneberg had a run-scoring double followed by Dalton Nelson getting a run-scoring single. WNCC led 7-1 after three.

The Cougars added single runs in the fourth and fifth. The fourth saw Hernandez score Jordan Rollins on a double for the 8-1 lead. In the fifth, it was Jones singling in Ethan Johnson for the 9-1 lead.

WNCC outhit Otero 11-4 in the second game. Jones, Hernandez, and Joseph Toubeaux each had two hits. Hernandez had a double, home run, two runs scored, and four RBIs, while Jones had two RBIs and a run scored.

Baumann got the win in going six innings in facing just 21 batters and throwing 73 pitches. Baumann struck out nine and did not walk a batter in scattering

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three hits. Caden Eymann tossed the seventh and struck out one and allowed just one hit in just 12 pitches.

The first game saw Otero score six first-inning runs before plating one in the second and three in the third. Otero added a single run in the top of the fourth for the 11-0 lead.

That was when WNCC started to put the offense together, scoring a single run in the bottom of the fourth as Drew Book doubled and scored on a Dillon Fabricus double.

WNCC came back and plated seven in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 11-8.

The fifth inning saw WNCC load the bases with one out and Fabricus scored a run by earning a walk. Quinn McCafferty plated another with a single and Sergio Tarango made it 11-4 with a run-scoring single.

WNCC added another run as Fabricus scored on a wild pitch and then Jones delivered a 3-run home run to cut the lead to 11-8.

Otero came back with a single run in the sixth only to watch WNCC answer with a run of their own as Eli Hernandez scored on a wild pitch. WNCC held Otero scoreless in the seventh and the Cougars had one last chance to tie the game and force extra innings or get a walk-off hit.

The seventh started when Adam walked followed by a Jones single. Jordan Rollins then lofted the ball that, at first glance, everyone thought was out of the ballpark, but the centerfielder drifted back and got the ball for one out. Adam did score on the next batter on a fielder’s choice hit, but that was all the Cougars could muster.

Otero outhit WNCC 13-10. Only three Cougars had multi-hit games. Jones, Book, and Fabricus all had two hits. Jones had three RBIs while Fabricus had two RBIs. Before the Otero games, WNCC hosted Miles Community College in a doubleheader on March 2 and won both games.

The Cougars are now 5-1 at Cleveland Field while being 1-7 on the road.

The Miles games were dramatic, too.

Drew Book blasted an 8th-inning, walkoff grand slam to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team come back to register a 20-19 game two win over Miles.

Head coach Mike Jones congratulates Drew Book on his game-winning eighth-inning home run that helped WNCC defeat Miles 20-19.

The first game with the Pioneers saw Will Potter throw a 2-hitter and Jack Jones finish with four RBIs including a 2-run walk-off fifth-inning single to help the Cougars earn the run-ruled 11-1 win .

Game two was a comeback that saw the Cougars trail 15-6 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the seventh that the Cougars put things together to score the tying runs with two outs.

That comeback in the seventh and the comeback in the eighth with Book’s grand slam saw the Cougars plate 14 runs in the last two innings.

The Cougars’ seventh-inning rally saw WNCC send 13 batters to the plate with five hits. The frame started as Book was hit by a pitch. Dylan Howard followed with a double. Spencer Ohu then scored Book with a single. Ethan Johnson plated two more with a double to make it 15-9.

Rollins followed with a single that scored another run to make it 15-10. Eli Hernandez then made the game closer as he cleared the bases with a 3-run home run over the left-field fence to make it 1513. Joe Kinneberg and Book then drew walks. After a second out, Ohu was at the plate and struck out swinging, but the

catcher dropped the ball and it rolled to the backstop and both runners scored to knot the game at 15-15, sending it to extra innings.

The top of the eighth saw Miles get lead-off singles by Jaedon Jordahl and Jake Lacey followed by a 3-run home run by Tim Holyk for the 18-15. Miles added one more as Thomas O’Connell scored on a wild pitch for the 19-15 lead.

WNCC answered in a big way as they were patient at the plate looking for good pitches to hit. Johnson and Jones started things by drawing walks. Hernandez loaded the bases after he drew a walk. Kinneberg scored the first run as he got a 9-pitch walk to force in one run. That set up Book, who took the first pitch deep over the centerfield fence for the walk-off grand slam and the game-winner.

Miles outhit WNCC in game two 1815. The Pioneers’ Holyk had four hits in the contest with three home runs. Holyk had seven RBIs. Jordahl also had two home runs, while Miles’ Mason Flanary and Jake Lacey each had one home run.

WNCC had five players register multihit games in the second contest. Hernan-

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dez led the way with four hits, including a double, home run, three runs scored and four RBIs. Book had two hits with three runs scored, five RBIs, and the grand slam.

Also registering at least two hits were Rollins with two RBIs and two runs scored, Kinneberg with two doubles, two RBIs, and four runs scored, and Ohu with a double and two RBIs. Jones scored four runs on just one hit.

Wyatt Zsidisin picked up the win, tossing the eighth inning in scattering four hits, allowing four runs and striking out one. Also seeing action in the contest were Archer Blumenshein with two innings pitched. Aiden Schultz also tossed two innings in allowing three runs and striking out three. Alliance’s JJ Garza went three innings in scattering six hits and six runs.

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The first game was a sterling pitching performance from Potter, who had a perfect game going through three innings and a no-hitter entering the fifth to help lead the Cougars to the 11-1 win.

Potter faced just 18 batters in five innings of work in allowing two fifth-inning hits including a solo home run while striking out eight and walking just one.

Offensively, the Cougars had 10 hits including three doubles and two home runs. Jones led the offensive attack with three hits with a double, a run scored, and four RBIs. Rollins and Hernandez each had two hits. Rollins had a home run with three RBIs, while Hernandez had a double. Quinn McCafferty had a home run with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The first two innings were scoreless.

WNCC finally broke open the offense with three in the third on 3-run home run

by McCafferty. WNCC extended the lead to 8-0 with five in the fourth. The Cougars loaded the bases and Jones drove in two with a 2-run double. Rollins then cleared the bases with a 3-run home run for the 8-0 lead.

Potter gave up his no-hit attempt when Miles’ Kaleb Breeze went deep with a leadoff solo home run.

WNCC ended the game in the fifth as the Cougars scored one run on a Dalton Nelson sacrifice fly before Jones scored the final two runs on the walk-off single.

The Cougars will now be in action over Spring Break when they face several teams in Arizona.

Follow the Cougar baseball action on the WNCC Cougar baseball Gamechanger page. Just log into gamechanger.io and search WNCC Cougar baseball, the 2022 season.

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Brooke Kaawa’s last day at WNCC The week before Spring Break was volleyball assistant coach Brooke Kaawa’s last week at WNCC as the former Cougar is headed to her new job as the head volleyball coach at Walla Walla Community College in Washington.

Thursday, March 10 was the last practice for the team before break and it was Brooke’s last practice with the team.

The team had to take a picture with her and the other team let “her” team win the scrimmage just because it was Brooke’s