WNCC Cougar Beat issue 6, Nov. 13

This Week in Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

Nov. 13, 2017 Issue 6

Region IX Champs Again!

19 Straight Years!

What’s In A Number

12 The number of wins by the men’s soccer team

this season. The 12 wins is the most in school history since the inaugeral season of 11. __________________

13 The number of incomng softball players for 2018 that signed on or around Nov. 5. The players were from Colorado, Utah, and Canada. __________________

20 The number of Region IX titles the Cougars

have won total. The first one was back in 1988, and then the next 19 come from 1999 to current. __________________

97 The average scoring average of the Cougar men’s basketball team after four games. WNCC has scored 120 points against Little Big Horn, 98 points against CSI in a loss, 92 points against CSI in a win, and 84 against Salt Lake. __________________

787 The number of people that have viewed

the WNCC and NJC Region IX title match back on Nov. 4 on WNCC’s The Cube video channel.

Cougar Athletics Upcoming Events Thursday, November 16

l Volleyball Away at National Tournament, Hutchinson, Kan.

— Cougars play New Mexico Military at 2 p.m. (MST) — VIDEO: http://www.njcaatv.com/landing/index

— Radio: Sunny 99.3 FM Friday, November 17

l Women’s Basketball Away vs. Little Big Horn, Sheridan, Wyo.

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs Central Wyoming, 5:30 p.m.

l Volleyball Away at National Tournament, Hutchinson, Kan. — VIDEO: http://www.njcaatv.com/landing/index

— Radio: Sunny 99.3 FM Saturday, November 18

l Women’s Basketball Away vs. Sheridan College, Sheridan, Wyo.

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs Western Wyoming, 4 p.m.

l Volleyball Away at National Tournament, Hutchinson, Kan. — VIDEO: http://www.njcaatv.com/landing/index

— Radio: Sunny 99.3 FM Monday, November 20

l Women’s and Men’s Soccer helping with Operation Christmas Child Friday, November 24

l Women’s Basketball Away vs. Utah State Eastern, Salt Lake City,

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs Frank Phillips, 7:30 p.m.

— VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759882

— Trinidad plays Quakerdale Prep at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 25

l Women’s Basketball Away vs. Salt Lake C.C., Salt Lake City,

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs Quakerdale Prep, 4 p.m.

— VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759883

— Trinidad plays Frank Phillips at 2 p.m.

Monday, November 27

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Williston State, 5:30 p.m.

— VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759884

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs Williston State, 7:30 p.m.

— VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759885 Wednesday, November 29

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Sheridan College, 5 p.m.

— VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759886 Thursday, November 30

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Adam’s State JV, TBA — VIDEO: http://thecube.com/e/759887 Friday, December 1

l High School — Western Conference Tourney at Cougar Palace

l Women’s Basketball at Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, Colo.

— VIDEO: https://thecube.com/cube/northeastern-junior-college-sterling-colorado

l Men’s Basketball at Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, Colo.

— VIDEO: https://thecube.com/cube/northeastern-junior-college-sterling-colorado Saturday, December 2

l High School — Western Conference Tourney at Cougar Palace Tuesday, December 5

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Casper College, 5:30 p.m.

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Casper College, 7:30 p.m.

Region IX South Champions!

The WNCC volleyball team hold the Region IX South trophy with pride after earning a come-from-behind five-set win over NJC in the Region IX championship match on Saturday. WNCC will compete in the national tournament Nov. 16-18 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

WNCC comes back to down NJC in five sets The WNCC volleyball team entered the Region IX South tournament as the No. 2 seed and having lost to NJC twice during the regular season.

That didn’t matter for this bunch of Cougars as they put together some of their best volleyball by winning three matches and earning a 19th straight Region IX title the first weekend in November The win was WNCC’s 20th Region IX title overall and the Cougars own the longest consecutive streak of competing in the national volleyball tournament.

The Cougars win was epic, too.

The Cougars won twice on Friday., Nov. 3. WNCC opened the tournament with a five-set thriller over Otero Junior College 25-15, 16-25, 25-17, 26-28, 15-9 before earning a sweep over NJC 28-26, 25-17, 2624 to put them Saturday’s championship.

The championship match was a thriller as the Plainwomen captured the first two sets 26-24 and 25-21. WNCC came back and won the next three 25-12, 25-21, 15-9 for the title.

WNCC, 32-6, now qualifies for the

Nov. 16-18 national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

WNCC coach Binny Canales was pleased with how his team played the entire match.

“I thought we played well the majority of the time,” Canales said. “In the first set they had a couple of spurts that put it out of reach. But, outside of that, I thought we played well the entire time. The last three we really turned it on. It was a fun match.

The girls competed. They played to win.

They didn’t wait for NJC to make a mistake.

Hats off to NJC, they played amazing and it was a great match.”

More importantly, Canales said this was a great team win with the energy the team showed.

“It is important to keep on top of things,” Canales said. “The bench helped out a lot.

The bench was great in calling balls in and out. They were encouraging and positive with everybody. It was a great team win.”

Genesis Benitez, who finished with 21 digs in the game while also being tabbed the Region IX South Libero of the Year, said

Brooke Kaawa passes the ball against NJC in the championship match.. the feeling the team is experiencing is unreal, especially since the team won the championship on her birthday.

“This is the best feel in the world. I am happy right now,” Benitez, who also was celebrating her birthday on Saturday, said. “For me, this is everything I

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WNCC comes back to down NJC in five sets

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worked hard for to get all this. When my family arrived on Thursday, it was something I cannot explain. There were many emotions at the time on Thursday. I dedicate my successes to my whole family.”

Brooke Kaawa, who finished with a triple-double of 14 kills, 17 digs, and 12 points, said this is a special moment.

“It feels good to be Region IX champs, especially since we fell to NJC twice in the regular season and then winning against them when it is most important,” Kaawa said. “We need to pat ourselves on the back.”

It was a team effort, too. Kaawa might have had a triple-double, but the team was hammering home kills left and right with NJC’s powerful hitters. The Cougars finished with a team total of 73 kills in the match with just 15 hitting errors. Sarena Bartley led the way with 20 kills, followed

by Joise Maldonado with 18, Kaawa with 14, and Kaile Tuisamatatele with 11.

While the Cougars were pounding the ball down with authority, they were also putting up a mean block. The Cougars tal-

Sarena Barley holds the Region IX trophy and jumps for joy to show her excitement.

Bartley finished with 20 kills in the championship match against NJC.

lied seven solo blocks, two each from Syenna Masaki and Tuisamatatele. Kaawa, Bartley, and Kadara Marshall each one solo block.

The contest, however, didn’t start well for the Cougars after dropping the first two sets. The first set was a dogfight with WNCC lead 20-16 and 21-19 before NJC’a Kacey Jaeger had three points for a 23-21 lead. NJC won the first 26-24.

The second set was knotted at 19-19 before Noel Phillips had three points for a 2319 lead. NJC won 25-21.

WNCC knew, entering the third, they needed to win the next three sets in order to avoid the if-necessary match. They started that comeback with thundering fashion in the third set. Marshall served the Cougars to a 5-0 lead and then Lauren Shaul had four points for a 12-2 lead. WNCC kept pushing, leading 16-6 and closed out the set on three Shaul points, including two aces for the 25-12 win.

The fourth set was a little closer. Both teams were knotted at 8-8 until Kirstee Trees had three points, including an ace for a 12-8 lead. WNCC pushed the lead to 1811 on four Kaawa points and won the set on a Bartley kill to force a fifth set.

With all the momentum on the Cougars side, the Cougar players kept the energy up. WNCC led 6-3 on two Marshall points.

The Cougars led 11-5 on two Shaul points.

From there, WNCC’s momentum kept going to capture the win 15-9 and the regional title.

Shaul, who finished with 11 digs and seven points, said the team never quit fighting.

“No one was ready to quit. We all wanted to fight for it,” the Gering High graduate said. “We kept pushing. The energy was good the whole time.”

Shaul, however, was worried a little bit, but had faith in her team for the comeback.

“I definitely was worried after the first two sets, but then the third set we definitely fired back and got a lot of momentum built up and we carried it,” she said. “Momentum is huge in volleyball. I think once we get the momentum, it is hard to stop.”

WNCC also played strong defense.

Benitez tallied 21 digs followed by Kaawa with 17, Shaul with 11, Syenna Masaki with nine, and Trees with seven.

Serving was also a strong part. The team did have six service errors in five sets, but finished with six aces. Kaawa had 12 points

REGION IX South Awards All-Region Team

Anamarija Mikovic, Lamar Community College Beatriz Palmieri, Otero Junior College Melissa Rodriguez, Otero Junior College Marina Kinna, Otero Junior College Megan Orth, McCook Community College Jessica Mahan, McCook Community College Dylann Bylund, McCook Community College Sara Antic, Northeastern Junior College Sofija Pajevic, Northeastern Junior College Kacey Jaeger, Northeastern Junior College Bailey Schumacher, Northeastern Junior College Brooke Kaawa, Western Nebraska Genesis Benitez, Western Nebraska Syenna Masaki, Western Nebraska Kaile Tuisamatatele, Western Nebraska Top Setter – Sofija Pajevic, Northeastern Top Libero – Genesis Benitez, Western Nebraska Freshman of the Year – Sara Antic, Northeastern Player of the Year – Sara Antic, Northeastern Coach of the Year – Jessica Squier, Northeastern Sheila Worley Sportsmanship – McCook

All-Tournament Team

Anamarija Mikovic, Lamar Community College Lena Srdanov, Lamar Community College Samantha Smith, Lamar Community College Megan Orth, McCook Community College Ryan Maddera, McCook Community College Sara Antic, Northeastern Junior College Noel Phillips, Northeastern Junior College Sofija Pajevic, Northeastern Junior College Kacey Jaeger, Northeastern Junior College Marine Kinna, Otero Junior College Alicia Hall, Trinidad State Junior College Brooke Kaawa, Western Nebraska Kadara Marshall, Western Nebraska Joise Maldonado, Western Nebraska Genesis Benetiz, Western Nebraska an ace, while Marshall had 10 points. Masaki finished with seven points and two aces, Trees six points, and Shaul seven points.

Masaki finished with 59 set assists, while Benitez had five assists.

Several Cougars earned Region IX South honors. Kaawa, Masaki, Benitez and Tuisamatatele earned All-Region honors, while Kaawa, Maldonado, Marshall, and Benitez earned all-tournament honors.

Benitez picked up the Libero of the Year honor.

WNCC seeded 4th at national tourney Cougars to play New Mexico Military at NJCAA nationals The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team earned the No. 4 seed for this week’s NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The Cougars open play Thursday at 2 p.m. (MST) against No. 13 New Mexico Military Institute. WNCC enters the national tournament with a 32-6 record while New Mexico Military is 28-11.

WNCC coach Binny Canales said he is OK with the seed.

“I am happy with it. There are a lot of great teams in the tournament and we are happy where we are at,” he said. “We have to prepare for New Mexico Military and make sure we take care of things on our side of the net.”

The Cougars and New Mexico Military have faced each other only five times previously with WNCC holding a 5-0 record.

Canales said he doesn’t know much about New Mexico Military, but will try to found out information.

“I have not seen them all year and I haven’t seen them a couple years,” he said. “We have to find information on them quick.”

What is known about New Mexico Military is they have four players six foot or taller, including 6-foot-2 Mirna Kovacevic of Serbia, 6-1 Hannah Davis of Herriman, Utah; 6-0 Megan Martinez of El Paso, Texas, and McKayla Landreth of Summerville, South Carolina. Davis leads the team in

Kaile Tuisamatatele and Joise Maldonado go up for a block against an NJC player in the championship match.

The six sophomores -- Joise Maldonado, Kadara Marshall, Brooke Kaawa, Genesis Benitez, Kirstee Trees, and Lauran Shaul pose with the trophy after winning the 19th straight regional title. kills with 307 while Landreth is next in line are going to go and try to represent the with 207. school, Scottsbluff, Gering, and handle it The Broncos earned their second-con- the best that we can.” secutive trip to the national tournament by WNCC was one of the top four seeds. defeating Midland College 25-22, 25-16, Defending national champion Miami 25-22 in the Region X West tournament. Dade, who has a 30-0 record, earned the NMMI has won eight straight since an top seed followed by Iowa Western ComOct. 13 loss to San Jacinto College. During munity College (37-1) and then College of that stretch, the Broncos dropped just one Southern Idaho (28-3). set while winning seven of the matches in Laramie County Community College, sweeps. who won the Region IX North title, earned WNCC earned its 19th straight trip to na- the No. 11 seed and will battle No. 6 Mintional tournament with a five-set win over eral Area, Missouri. LCCC is 32-6 on the Northeastern Junior College 24-26, 21-25, season while Mineral Area is 34-0.

25-12, 25-21, 15-9 on Saturday. The Cou- The tournament runs through Saturday, gars enter the national tournament as the November 18. longest active streak of competing at the national tournament. The streak start back in NJCAA National Tourney First Round 1999 under former head coach Chris Green. No. 3 Southern Idaho (38-3) vs. No. 14 Eastern Canales said the focus for the first-round Arizona (22-8) No. 6 Mineral Area (34-0) vs. No. 11 Laramie County contest is on themselves.

(32-6) “We will prepare as best as we can, No. 7 Tyler, Texas (19-9) vs. No. 10 St. Petersburg but we are going to look at our side (17-5) of the court and try to stay in system, No. 2 Iowa Western (37-1) vs. No. 15 Hutchinson serve tough and take them out of sys- (27-12) tem, and let the best team win,” he said. No. 1 Miami Dade (30-0) vs. No. 16 Wallace State One advantage to playing one of the last (34-8) matches of the first round is the match time No. 8 Panola, Texas (25-6) vs. No. 9 Polk State (Fla.) (17-8) is around the Cougars’ practice time.

“The game time is fine,” Canales said. “It No. 4 Western Nebraska (32-6) vs. No. 13 New Mexico Military (28-11) is around our practice time so we are used No. 5 Hill (Texas) (26-1) vs. Monroe (N.Y.) (20-9) to playing around that time. Right now we

Softball team inks 13 players on Sunday 11 players ink in special signing ceremonies Sunday, Nov. 5 was a special morning for 13 future Western Nebraska Community College softball players. Eleven of the players, who were on campus over the weekend, signed letter-of-intents to continue their playing days with the Cougar softball program in 2018 in a special recruiting signing ceremony in the morning.

WNCC head coach Katelyn Groves said it was a special day, not only for the players, but for herself.

“Watching 11 of the 13 young ladies sign on campus was extremely special,” Groves said. “This is my first recruiting class at WNCC since I took over as the head coach. These young ladies have such passion and buy in for Cougar Softball already and it’s so exciting as a coach. Very thankful that they took the time to travel to Scottsbluff and spend this special day with us.”

Groves said all 13 future Cougars will bring a lot to the table next year.

“These young ladies have a high level of talent. They will bring a lot of passion, character, hustle and heart to the team next year,” Groves said. “Each of them has different strengths but the one thing they all have in common is their goals – they all want to be pushed and want to become the best student, softball player and person that they can become. They will be a fun group to watch, along with those returning to next year’s squad.”

The 11 players that made the trip to the Panhandle include three from Canada in Devon Rees, Royal Bay Secondary in British Columbia; Emma Glawson of Lambrick Park Secondary in British Columbia; and Hayley Gordon of Lambrick Park Secondary in British Columbia.

The Utah signees include Mickie Mills of Maple Mountain High in Spanish Fork, Utah; Madi Simons of Salem Hills High in Salem, Utah; Sidnee Hogan of Bingham High in South Jordan, Utah; and Bri George of Fremont High in Plain City, Utah.

Four players hail from Colorado. They include Jaila Johnson from Niwot High School in Niwot; Emma Flynn of Silver Creek High in Longmont; Kendall Glasgow of Rocky Mountain High in Ft. Collins; and Peyton Propp of Bear Creek High in Lakewood.

Two players couldn’t make the trip to

The 11 2018 softball signees that were on campus pose for a group photo after inking to play for WNCC next year.

Scottsbluff and signed at home. They include Lindsey Allie, a middle infielder from Tooele, Utah, and Hannah Baesler, a middle infielder from Northglenn, Colorado.

Here is a glimpse of what each 13 of the signees had to say about signing with WNCC and playing softball. r Bri George, who plays catcher and the corner infield comes from Plain City, Utah.

George said she is glad to get the recruiting process out of the way. “It is crazy to know that it is over because the recruiting process is long and tedious and it is exciting to know that you have a place to go and you are welcome. It is pretty cool to finally have it done,” George said. “There were a lot of different factors that went in it. What came down to it was my biggest goals in life is I want to be the best person I can be and the best athlete I can be. I think I can do that here. I think I have the tools that I can use. Obviously, coach is amazing and I think this is the best place for me.” r Peyton Propp, who is a pitcher and outfielder, hails from Lakewood, Colorado, where she was a 5A Colorado All-state honorable mention selection. Propp went 9-9 this past fall with 130 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.96. Propp picked WNCC because of the welcoming feel she received. “On my visit, Coach Katie and Jolene [Martin, WNCC Admissions Recruiter] really welcomed me and my biggest thing when choosing a college is I wanted someplace that felt like home. As soon as I came to Scottsbluff, it really felt like

home to me. Propp is extremely excited she gets to continue her softball playing days. “It is really exciting because I have been playing softball since I was really little and I just love this sport and now I get to go to college and continue to play with girls that I get to live with now. It will be exciting.” r Sidnee Hogan, who is a first-baseman and utility player from South Jordan, Utah, comes to WNCC having known Coach Groves for a while. Groves was her youth coach when she was on a 12-under team in Utah. Hogan is excited to be playing at WNCC. “When I was little, about 12 years old, Coach Groves introduced me to this program,” Hogan said. “And she told me what a perfect athlete was so I based coming here off that. When she gave me an opportunity to play for her, I couldn’t resist it.” Hogan said she couldn’t wait until she got here to sign to play for the Cougars. “I was counting the days of coming out here to sign,” she said. “I am really excited.” r Madison Simons, who plays third base, comes to WNCC from Salem, Utah.

Simons said she is excited to continue her playing career at the next level. “It is way exciting. It is like a huge dream come true. It has always been a dream to go out of state and play softball,” she said. “When I get here, I will give all 110 percent of what I have and hopefully I will succeed of what Coach Groves wants me to do.” r Kendall Glasgow, who is a catcher

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Softball team inks 13 players on Sunday Story continued from previous page and utility player from Ft. Collins, Colorado. Glasgow, who finished this fall with a .430 batting average with 20 RBIs, said playing college softball has been something she has always wanted to do. “I always knew for a long time that I wanted to go on and play college softball, so actually to be given the opportunity, I am really excited for it,” Glasgow said. “I am glad the recruiting process is over. It took a while. For me it is not that tedious; it is for me when I got to a school to visit, I automatically knew if I liked it or not. When I came here, I knew this is where I wanted to be. It wasn’t a hard choice.” r Haylee Gordon, who is a catcher from British Columbia, Canada, said she is excited to come down from Canada to play softball at WNCC. “I really like the coach, who I met in Colorado,” Gordon said. “I also like the small school because it is a lot like home.

I am also coming from two other teammates from Canada so I will be more comfortable.” r Mickie Mills, who is a pitcher and also plays corner infield from Spanish Fork, Utah, came to WNCC because of the coach and the small-school feel. “When I came for my visit, I liked how the atmosphere felt. I also liked how everybody knew each other because it was a smaller campus,” Mills said.

Mills comes to WNCC having batted .467 as a junior at Maple Mountain High School with 22 runs scored, 12 RBIs, nine doubles and five home runs. r Emma Flynn, who is a middle infielder from Longmont, Colorado, said she came to WNCC because of the small town feel. “When I came on my visit, I really like Coach Katie,” Flynn said. “Then it felt right and it felt like home. I also liked how coach said the community gets involved with the softball team, and I like the softball field itself.” Flynn said that she has met new friends on the recruiting trip and excited for next year. “I have met a lot of good friends and had a ton of fun on this trip. I really like all of them. I am excited to play with them,” she said. “ r Emma Glawson, who is an outfielder who is not afraid to play anywhere, comes to WNCC from British Columbia, Canada.

Glawson is anxious to play softball in the states. “There are many factors that led me to choose here. First of all I always wanted to play college softball in a small town area

Bri George and her family pose for a picture after the signing festivities.

Devon Rees is all happy as she listens to her future teammates answer questions.

somewhere far away from home. I thought this would be a great place and mixed myself with the American culture,” Glawson said.

“When I first researched Western Nebraska, the first thing that struck me was two years ago they had a 53-13 record. Right away I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of, a winning team. I am really lucky to come here with two of my best friends, teammates. That is a huge bonus for me.”

Glawson said coming with her teammates, Gordon and Rees, is big. “It was a huge bonus for me coming here to come with two Canadian girls,” she said. “We will bring that Canadian spirit to America.” r Jaila Johnson, who plays outfield as well as second base from Niwot, Colorado, was an honorable mention 4A player this past season at Niwot. Johnson said she picked WNCC because of “Coach Groves made me feel like home and made me feel welcomed. I also like the small town feel because I am from a small town,” Johnson said.

What Johnson is excited about is meeting different players from all over. “I think it is pretty cool to get to know girls from Canada and what they do.” r Devon Rees, who is a middle infielder from British Columbia, said what drew her to the college was because Coach Katie makes the players feel at home, especially by celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving, which is held in October. “I remember coming to visit the campus and she was telling us about Thanksgiving because we have a different

Thanksgiving in Canada. She said she has a Canadian Thanksgiving here and she cooks everything you ask her. That is a huge part of it,” Rees said. “She is a like a parent-figure as a coach. That was a huge part of it for me.

I also like the campus and the small town.

And it snows and I am excited for snow.” r Lindsey Allie, who is middle infielder and outfielder from Tooele, Utah, choose WNCC because it is a program that will push her to be a better player. “I wanted to play for a program that makes me work hard,” she said. “I want to become a better player and get pushed hard, and eventually move on to play softball after Western. I also love the school, program and coach.” Allie batted .527 as a junior with 18 doubles, 41 runs scored and 20 RBIs for Stansbury High School. r Hannah Baesler, who is a middle infielder and outfielder from Thornton, Colorado, picked WNCC because everything about the college and community felt perfect. “I really liked how invested the coaches were in me; they watched me play in multiple locations,” she said. “The school was better than I expected. The classrooms were perfect for my learning, not too big not too small. I really liked how everything was placed, the whole campus was easy to navigate. I also enjoyed the towns around with Scottsbluff and Gering; the smaller environment really works for me while I’m first starting out. I got that feeling that I will be able to excel at WNCC.”

Former Cougar Otis Frazier inducted into CSC Hall of Fame When Otis Frazier played for the Cougars in the late 1990s, he helped the Cougars to the national championship.

But it was what Frazier did after his two years at WNCC that has spearheaded the former Cougar into an individual that succeeds with anything he does.

Frazier came back to the Panhandle to be inducted into the Chadron State College Hall of Fame. While in the Panhandle, Frazier made a trip to see his old stomping grounds of WNCC. Frazier said it is an honor to be inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame.

“To be in the Hall of Fame is a special humbling moment in a athlete’s life,” he said.

“No one thinks of the HOF during their playing time, but when you get the call, you are speechless and humbled. It’s a great honor to receive with only playing one season at Chadron State. I think it’s been a few since a basketball player has been inducted at Chadron.”

Frazier played for the Cougars from 1995-97, helping them to a 32-5 and Region IX title in 1997. After WNCC, Frazier signed with Butler University and played one season with the Bears. Frazier than returned to the Panhandle and played a season with Chadron State. :While at WNCC, Frazier scored a career 676 points and shot 55 percent for his career.

He also pulled down 290 rebounds and had 86 steals.

Frazier’s only season at Chadron State was 1999-2000, when the Eagles were 19-8.

He averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds, both second in the RMAC and also set the CSC record and led the conference in steals with 73.

Frazier will always have deep memories of the Panhandle, and to come back to Chadron and see the new basketball gym is special.

“To come back home and see the new facility and old facility as well as seeing the up rising and new players and old friends and classmates and mentors was great,” he said. “The best moment of it all was to share the experience with my wife and three kids Otis3, Keenya, and Malik Frazier. My two other kids Alexis and Aliyah missed the event sadly. “ During his trip to the Panhandle, he visited his dorm parents Joe and Kathy Gentry and made a visit to Cougar Palace.

“For me to come back through the panhandle after being gone about three years

and seeing the change at Cougar Palace, and Chadron State was great,” he said. “It gave me the presence of mind and honor to say I assisted in starting this run of glory for the two programs. It was great to see memories of past coaches, teachers, and especially my Host family (Kathy and Joe Gentry). They were a special part of my life growing up in Scottsbluff.. I’ve carried my relationship with them for 22 years now and still call them mom and dad.”

Frazier remember plenty of games during his playing days at WNCC and Chadron State.

“Games I remember the most at WNCC was playing in Las Vegas during the New Year Tourney in 1997 and the Championship game when we beat North Platte,” he said. “At Chadron, I remember beating Metro State, the 3-time defending champs. That was a huge game. Also, playing Kearney at Chadron and putting up 46 points “ After his basketball playing days was finished, Frazier still stayed competitive, playing semi-pro football with the Nebraska Storm that played at the football fields in Mitchell, Scottsbluff, and Gering.

Frazier was a star in both sports at Lew Wallace High School and it showed. He was a high school coach in football until this past season in Arizona and he also coaches a team.

Frazier said both sports go hand-in-hand with each other to him.

“Basketball to Football was easy,” he said.

“It was something that I have always been doing.. I have been playing sports since I was 8 years old.

Otis Frazier stands in the hallway of what is called Region IX Trophy row on his trip back to the Panhandle

Otis Frazier slams home two points when he played for the Cougars. Frazier was inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame.

“I’ve been playing both sports and just finishing up football last season, and I can finally say I’m done with football. I’m coach-

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Former Cougar Otis Frazier inducted into CSC Hall of Fame

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ing AAU basketball and high school basketball and my sons 10 and 8 year old basketball teams.”

After his college playing days, and before he moved to Arizona because of his job, Frazier had many jobs in the Panhandle. It was his job with BNSF that gave him the most honor with a number of safety awards and employee recognition awards. It was through them that he got promoted to Arizona.

“The Panhandle has been special for me and it will always be home because my first three older kids were born their,” he said.

“I spent many years in Gering, Scottsbluff, and Chadron. You kinda can say I did my adult lifehood there. I was working first at Applebees, then with Scotts Bluff County as a Detention officer, Scottsbluff youth Shelter, Aurora Loan Services, Cirrus House INC. and finally BNSF Railway. The Railroad job promoted me to RoadMaster and my move to Phoenix came about.”

Frazier is currently working for the Maricopa County Sheriff Office as an Officer.”

A newspaper article on Otis Frazier that was done when he signed with Butler University. Frazier was not only a standout on the basketball court, but he was a standout football player in high school and then the Nebraska Storm here in Scottsbluff.

WNCC women top Nebraska All-stars in home opener The 25th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team put five players in double figures in rolling past the Nebraska All-stars 107-50 in the home-opener Nov. 7 at Cougar Palace.

Melisa Kadic led the Cougar attack with 25 points with three 3-pointers. Freshman Merle Wiehl pitched in 19 points and sophomore Olivia Wiberg popped in 16 points, including four treys. One of Wiberg’s trey was a shot at the buzzer from about 22 feet out in the second half.

Wiberg said the team started slow and then realized they had to pick it up. WNCC only led the All-stars 17-14 in the first half.

“I think we came out a little bit slower and we came out not knowing what we were dealing with,” Wiberg said. “Then we came out better. I know from Saturday’s game, we wanted to work better as a team and develop- WNCC’s Merle Wiehl goes up for a shot while Nebraska All-stars Havannah Newens ing habits as a team. I think that really picked goes up for a block. The Cougars won 107-50 in the home-opener. up later in the game and we played better.”

The Nebraska All-stars never stopped playing. In fact, they were battling all night long. The difference was the All-stars just couldn’t shots to fall. Wiberg said she appreciated the All-stars coming out.

“We really appreciate that we got to have this game because it was important for us to get out there and play. We have been talking a lot about effort, effort, effort no matter the situation or adversity we are facing. We need to be giving 110 percent effort always.”

Wiberg said they knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“They really brought it tonight and we knew this was not going to be a walk in the park,” she said. “We knew some of them were former players and we knew that any Giovanna Silva goes to make a save out of WNCC’s Olivia Wiberg gets ready to pop one of them could bring something tonight. bounds during the home opener. in one of her four 3-pointers on Tuesday.

We had to be ready for whatever.”

WNCC held a slim 21-17 lead late in the Cougars. Ashley (Stevens) Fenning tallied portant that we take these good habits and first half before going on a 19-0 run spanning 16 points, including going 7-of-9 from the effort and work together as a team because the final minutes of the first quarter and first, free throw line, while Jessica Aratani fin- it is not one man’s job. We, for sure, need to four minutes of the second for a 40-17 lead. ished with nine points. bring our effort and energy.”

WNCC went on lead 62-24 after Anastacia WNCC, 2-1 on the young season, will hit Johnson hit a bucket at the buzzer. the road this weekend for a pair of games WNCC kept the offence going in the in Council Bluffs, Iowa, against ranked op- Nebraska All-Stars 17 7 15 11 – 50 third quarter as they pushed the lead to ponents. WNCC will take on No. 18 (Divi- WNCC (2-1) 27 35 24 21 – 107 82-31 on back-to-back treys by Kadic and sion I) Iowa Western Community College ALL-STARS Wiberg. The Cougars led 86-39 after three. on Friday before taking on No. 2 (Division Havannah Newens 5, Ashley Guzman 8, WNCC went over the century mark with II) Johnson County Community College Chalsey Grentz 6, Jessica Bruce 2, Ashley Fen5:33 to play in the fourth on a Giovanna Sil- on Saturday. WNCC faced these same two ning 16, Jessica Aratani 9, Stephanie Perez 4. va bucket to make it 101-42. teams a year ago and fell on the road.

WNCC The Cougars also received 14 points from Wiberg said these are big games and it Melisa Kadic 25, Meryle Wiehl 19, Jaleesa AvAvery and 12 from Silva, while Sophie Ago- will be good tests for the Cougars. ery 14, Sophie Agorakis 8, Olivia Wiberg 16, rakis and Johnson each had eight points.

“We definitely have tough competition Josie Perez 5, Anastacia Johnson 8, Giovanna The All-stars were led by the two former ahead this weekend,” Wiberg said. “It is im- Silva 12.

Several Cougar soccer players get honors Several Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer players picked up post-season honors when the All-Region South and All-tournament teams were released the first part of November.

The Cougar men, who set a school record of 12 wins, placed four on the first team of the South All-Region team and placed another three on the second team.

The first team selections were led by the team’s leading goal scorers sophomore Lawan Abary and freshman Silvio Xavier, who both earned recognition at the forward position.

Abary set school records in scoring, netting 20 goals this season. Abary finished his career with 26 goals. Both are records clipping Ivan Sakou’s 16 goals in the 2014 season and the career mark of 20 set by Jose Netto in the 2010 and 201 seasons. Xavier scored 17 goals to earn first team honors. Xavier ranks second on the season scoring charts.

Also capturing first team honors was freshman Ramses Atahualpa as a midfielder, and Ade Oshikoya as a defender.

Cougars earning second team all-region recognition included Scottsbluff ’s Eseah Ingram, a sophomore, as a defender. Sophomore Andre Mazuda and freshman Thomas Franze earned second team honors as midfielders.

All-region South Soccer Selections

Oshikoya 1st Team

Atahualpa 1st Team

Mazuda 2nd Team

Abary 1st Team

Ingram 2nd Team

Other members of the first team included Trinidad’s Biska Biyombo, Hakum Williams, Khori Edmond, and Akeem Prawl; Otero’s Gimale Essacu and Petar Pesic; and NJC’s Joseph Goday, Paul Liagre, and Brodie Hayes Second team honors went to Otero’s Kevin Chavez, Salvador Jimenez, Arturo Chairez, Martin Soriano; Trinidad’s Christopher Badibengi and Rodolfo Reyes; Central’s Peterson Costa, Marcus Horwood; and NJC’s Ryan Maulsby and Jean Carre.

Otero’s Arturo Chairez earned the Fresh-

Xavier 1st Team

Franze 2nd Team

man of the Year while Trinidad’s Biska Biyombo was the MVP. NJC’s David Groves was the Region IX South Coach of the Year.

WNCC had just one player on the Region IX all-tournament team. Xavier earned that honor.

The Cougars won their opening match of the regional tournament with a 5-1 win over North-west College before falling to Northeastern Junior College 1-0 in the semifinals. Otero went on to win the regional title over NJC. WNCC finished the season 12-6.

Former Cougars make all-conference for York Two former Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer players earned All-Conference honors for York College recently.

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference announced the 2017 Women’s Soccer All-Conference awards Friday morning.

Former Cougars Hannah Wilke and Corinne McDonald earned honorable mention honors for the KCAC all-conference honors.

York, in total, had six girls make all-region for the conference’s coach of the year Stefan Skillman.

York members making second team included Breanna Bembenek (FR/New Lenox, Ill) and Amber Jimenez (FR/Gilbert, Ariz). The two led the Panthers offensively combining for 40 points on the season.

Bembenek scored nine goals and added five assists for her 23 point total. Jimenez had seven goals along with three assists for her

17 points.

Wilke and McDonald led the four honorable mention players. Wilke, from North Platte, and McDonald, from England, along with Carmen Zavala, of Chino, California, and Madison Kinney of Council Bluffs, Iowa, earned second team.

McDonald and Zavala each scored two goals and two assists in the 2017 campaign.

Wilke and Kinney were the backbone of a defense that combined for nine shut outs on the season and only allowed 1.56 goals against average.

York ended its season with a loss in the semifinals of the conference tourney 4-1 to Oklahoma Wesleyan. McDonald scored the lone goal for York. York finished the year 10-8-2

Brooke Doumer poses with her coaches and players after signing to attend Colorado Mesa next season.

Doumer inks with Colorado Mesa softball

WNCC sophomore Brooke Doumer transferred to Western Nebraska Community College from Iowa Western Community College to be closer to home and play softball.

Next season, she will be even closer to home, inking a letter of intent to play softball at Colorado Mesa University Thursday evening.

Doumer, a shortstop for the Cougars, is excited to be attending Colorado Mesa after this season.

“I choose to go there because I only earned good things about their softball coach and their program is really good,” the Parker, Colorado, product said. “Their campus is really gorgeous and I am excited to be going there.”

Doumer played four years at Legend High School in Parker, where she was a four-year varsity player. Doumer finished her high school career with a .411 batting average with 95 hits, 54 RBIs, 97 runs scored with 7 home runs, 18 doubles and four triples. She also had 23 stolen bases and had a fielding percentage of .949, committing just 10 errors in four years of high school ball.

Last year at Iowa Western, Doumer appeared in 44 games, batting .389 with four home runs, 40 RBIs, 47 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. In three games against WNCC last season, Doumer was 4-for-8 with two doubles, a run scored and three RBIs. Doumer earned Academic All-Region XI first team honors last year for the Reivers.

Iowa Western won two of the three games against the Cougars a year ago.

Doumer said she was glad she picked WNCC to play her sophomore season.

“C ont i nu i ng my softball career here is a blessing and I am really excited to continue,” she said. “It [playing at WNCC] Brooke Doumer and her dorm family, Scott and Brenda Schwartz- was a good fit kopf after Brooke signed to play next year at Colorado Mesa Univer- for me. Iowa sity in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Brooke Doumer poses with her letter of intent on Thursday.

Western wasn’t a good fit. I really like the small town here and it is a great community. I like being closer to home and that is another factor that played in me going to Mesa and here. I really like being in Colorado and I get to go back there.”

WNCC will open the season next semester and Doumer’s goals are team driven.

“I want to win a regional title with my team, that is our goal,” she said.

Doumer added that being a part of this team is like a family. Something that she loves.

“It is awesome [being with these players],” she said. “I love the girls and knowing that you have a family here to back you up no matter what is awesome.”

Doumer is majoring in secondary education and is thinking about getting into coaching softball.

Shahid inks with North Dakota State

Western Nebraska Community College’s Vinnie Shahid’s Division I dream officially became reality Wednesday as the Cougar point guard inked with North Dakota State University.

Shahid, in signing with the Bison, will only be a couple hours from home.

“It is only three hours from home and the coaching staff made me feel like I was home every time I stepped on campus,” Shahid said. “Me and the head and assistant coaches have a great relationship. The teammates are unselfish. We get along well and there are a lot of similar characteristics like I have here at WNCC.” Shahid has always wanted to play Division I since he was a youngster and he couldn’t be prouder to of fulfilled that dream.

“It definitely is a dream come true,” he said. “As a kid, you always wish to be at the highest level and Division I is the highest level in college sports. Really, it is a dream come true and now hopefully I get to make a run at the NCAA tournament.”

Shahid has elevated his game since coming to WNCC from Hopkins High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Last year he scored 434 points for an average of 15.4 points a game. This season, Shahid is scoring at a torrid pace just two games into the season. Shahid is averaging 24.5 points a game, which is 14th in the NJCAA. Shahid said that he has worked hard to

Vinny Shahid poses for a picture with is team and coaches after signing with North Dakota State on Nov. 8.

Vinny Shahid sits alongside Cougar coach Cory Fehringer as he signs his letter of intent to attend Division I North Dakota State next year. make this dream come true on and off the court.

“I have grown a ton,” Shahid said. “I can remember Coach Cory calling me in high school and telling me ‘I believe in you and I believe this is a dream we can make come true.’ Only him and I are the two that believed in it and other people didn’t really believe in it. I trusted him and I did the things that he asked me to do as a player and man, and now I am here today.”

Shahid had a bunch of schools looking at him, including Jacksonville State, Robert Morris, Mercer, Missouri State, and the

University of San Diego,” he said. “There were some other options I could have chosen, but there is no place I would rather be than North Dakota State.”

North Dakota State is a program that is a basketball power in the Summit League and has made national tournament appearances.

“They average 20-plus wins a year,” he said. “Two years ago, they made a run at the national tournament beating Oklahoma.

They are not a bad program at all. They are always at the top of the Summit League or top two teams. They are a really good program.”

Jaleesa Avery and her teammates after the 6-foot-1 forward inked a letter of intent with Division I Morehead State University on Nov. 8.

Avery inks with Division 1 Morehead State When Jaleesa Avery was in high school, she never thought about playing NCAA Division I basketball.

That all changed on Wednesday as the 6-foot-1 Western Nebraska Community College forward inked with Morehead State University in Kentucky to continue her playing days.

Avery said she was surprised to get Division I looks, considering she started playing basketball in the eighth grade.

“No, I didn’t think about going Division I in high school only because I started playing during my 8th grade summer. I didn’t even think I was that good on my high school team,” she said.

“It was kind of shocking for me.”

Avery is a testament that hard work pays off in going to the next level.

“My freshman year of college, I did way better than I thought I would,” Avery said. “This year I am still improving on things and I think I am ready to go to the next level.”

Last season, Avery averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. This year is averaging seven points a game, but it is her potential and talent on the basketball court that impressed the Morehead coaches. Avery said she picked Morehead State because of many reasons “I thought their style of play was similar to Western Nebraska’s and I thought I would be a good fit for their program,” she said. “I also thought the girls were welcoming and the coaches were great

when I visited.”

Morehead State plays in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Last season the Eagles finished 2110 and lost in the WNIT to Middle Tennessee State.

Avery knows that she still has room to improve.

“I am happy to be going to the Division I level, but I know I still have work to do here and there,” she said. “So, I know I have to keep improving in all aspects of the game.”

This year Avery hopes the Cougars can win another championship, but it is more important to play together as a team.

“I think our goal is obviously to win regionals again and go back to nationals,” she said. “But really it is just to play together, be a team, and work on the little things that we need to and improve every day so we can be better.”

Next year Avery will be heading to Kentucky, and when she does, she will definitely miss her time at WNCC. “I think I will miss my teammates the most and all my friends that I made here,” she said. “I will also miss playing at this great program and being here.”

WNCC volleyball inks first recruit for 2018 Torrington’s Sherbeyn inks with Cougars Torrington’s Adia Sherbeyn had an outstanding senior volleyball season at Torrington High School, helping the Trailblazers to the 3A state tournament.

Now, the 5-foot-5 outside hitter/libero officially is taking the next step in her playing career, inking a letter of intent with Western Nebraska Community College.

Sherbeyn said it is a decision that she is happy with.

“It is very exciting [to be signing with WNCC],” she said. “I know they are a big program and very successful. I am just super excited.”

Torrington high coach Chelsi Jackson is thrilled that she is joining the Cougar program.

“I am so excited for her and I am so excited that it is with WNCC,” she said. “It is a good school and she will do well there. I am very proud of her. I am glad we get to go and watch her.”

WNCC coach Binny Canales is excited to get someone with a high volleyball IQ and talent.

“I am real excited that she is coming to play for us,” Canales said. “I think she makes all her teammates better. She is a very skilled player that can do a variety of things that can help our team. She is a great athlete and has a very high volleyball IQ. She will definitely help us. She is a good kid.”

The decision was not an easy one for

Torrington’s Adia Sherbeyn signs her letter of intent to play for the Cougar volleyball team next year.

Sherbeyn, especially since her mom, Julie, is the Eastern Wyoming College volleyball coach. Adia said a coach and daughter relationship sometimes is not the best. Instead, she picked WNCC. “It was kind of hard going against my mom, but I think this is a good place for me,” Sherbeyn said. “We both like Binny a lot and being coached by a parent is pretty hard. I just think WNCC is a good place for me and I feel Binny is a great coach.”

Sherbeyn said WNCC’s volleyball richness also got her eye. She hopes to make a difference in the program.

“I think I can be a good edition to the team and hopefully do some good stuff,” she said. “I am just excited to be a part of

Adia Sherbeyn (middle) sits alongside her parents (Neil and Julie, who are the head coaches at EWC volleyball and men’s basketball), and high school coaches, teammates, family and WNCC head coach Binny Canales.

that.”

Sherbeyn had an outstanding senior season, helping the Trailblazer volleyball team to a state tournament.

“This last year was a really good year for Torrington with the new coach stepping and really changing the program up,” the senior outside hitter said. “Going to state was a highlight and we haven’t been to state the last four years. That is a big thing and a good way to grow.”

Jackson said Sherbeyn as a versatile player.

“She had a great season. She was in all the state stats,” the coach said. “She is a utility player. I moved her out of being a libero and made her a hitter and she took that with grace. She did a lot of good things for us.”

Jackson said Sherbeyn finished number two in aces in the state. She was number one for serve receive with a 2.96 per game average. She was in the top 10 for almost everything.

“She was a great utility player. We are going to miss her next year. It will be hard to go without her,” Jackson said. “But I really like how he [Canales] coaches and I think it will be a good experience with her. I think he will get a lot out of her.”

Sherbeyn’s goal for next year is to contribute however she can.

“I just want to step in and do good things for the team,” Sherbeyn, who plans to major in physical therapy, said. “Hopefully, after my two years there, I can go and play on.”

Sakou nabs conference tourney MVP, helps Lipscomb to conference title

Campbell part of Missouri Valley College district title

Former WNCC Cougar soccer player Mark Campbell is continuing his success in soccer.

Campbell, who continued his playing days at Missouri Valley College, is now the graduate assistant coach for the Missouri Valley.

Campbell’s college team Missouri Valley College captured the championship of the America Athletic Conference Tourney with a 5-1 win over Baker University.

The win advances Missouri to a first round home contest in the NAIA national tournament. The pairings for the soccer national tourney will be released on Monday.

Missouri Valley is now 15-2-3 on the season.

Lipscomb senior and former WNCC soccer player Ivan Sakou helped the Lipscomb men’s soccer team to the ASUN conference title with a 2-1 win over Jacksonville University.

“This feels great,” Lipscomb head coach Charles Morrow said. “I am so happy for these guys and our coaches. This win is big for our program. I could not be more excited to finally be able to bring back a championship. It’s a great feeling.

“What a tremendous job by JU to get to this game. They found their stride late in the season and found a way to be dangerous, but tonight we were the better side.”

With the win, the Bisons earn the ASUN’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where they will be a firsttime participant. Lipscomb is 11-7-2 on the season.

Sakou, who played one year at WNCC before transferrring to VCU for a year, spent the last two years at Lipscomb. Sakou, who didn’t score a goal in the championship match, did score three goals in the tourney to nab the tourney MVP honor. Sakou was also on the all-tournament team.

“Ivan has had a great tournament,” Morrow said. “Without him we don’t win it. He was so huge and the MVP honor is well deserved. In terms of production, he sometimes doesn’t show up on the score sheet

Ivan Sakou holds the MVP award he was presented after Lipscomb University captured its first conference title and berth in the national tournament. like tonight, but the job he did in holding up the ball and working to press was fantastic.”

Another former Cougar, Billy Hoffmann, and his UNO soccer team captured the Summit League title by topping topseed Denver University 9-8 in a shootout.

The won moves the Mavericks to 11-5-2 on the season. The Mavs now qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament.

Hoffmann, who is a junior, has played in just one match for th Mavs.

WNCC Athletes of the Week -- Female Athlete of the Week for week ending Nov. 12 -Karli Seay, a freshman, had teh biggest shot of the season when the freshman hit a trey at the buzzer to top No. 2 Johnson County on Saturday. Seay finished with 24 points in the game with seven rebounds. In three games last week, Seay had 32 points, 15 rebounds, 9-of-12 from the free throw line, and 12 assists.

Female Aug. 27........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Sept. 4...... Genesis Benitez, Vball Sept. 14... Jayme Commins, Vball

Sept. 21.... Kadara Marshall, Vball Sept. 28......Syenna Masaki, Vball Oct. 1....... Joise Maldonado, Vball Oct. 8...........Sarena Bartley, Vball Oct. 16.......Morgan Smith, Soccer Oct. 22.........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Oct. 29........Syenna Masaki, Vball Nov. 5.................. Volleyball Team Nov. 12.........................Karli Seay

-- Male Athlete of the Week for week ending Nov. 12 -Marlon Sierra, a sophomore, had a big weekend, including scoring 26 points against Salt Lake. He had four as-

sists, three steals, 8-10 of free throw shooting in the game. In a win over CSI, Martin had nine points, eight rebounds, 3-4 free throw shooting and three assists.

Male Aug. 27....... Lawan Abary, Soccer Sept. 4....Thomas Franze, Soccer Sept. 14. Ramses Atahaulpa, Soccer Sept. 21...Andre Matzuda, Soccer Sept. 28.....Ade Oshikoya, Soccer Oct. 1........... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 8............Owen Parra, Soccer Oct. 16........ Lawan Abary, Soccer Oct. 22......... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 29........ Soccer Team, Soccer Nov. 5........... Vinnie Shahid, Bball Nov. 12..........Marlon Sierra, Bball

Cougar women top two ranked teams

Seay’s trey gives WNCC win over Johnson County

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – It was a big weekend for the WNCC women’s basketball team at the Hampton Inn and Suites Classic as they beat two ranked teams to move to 4-1 on the season.

WNCC opened the Classic with a 65-53 over No. 18 Iowa Western Community College before taking down No. 2 (DivisionII) Johnson County Community College on a Karli Seay 3-pointer at the buzzer for the win.

The wins move the Cougars to 4-1 on the season after knocking off two ranked teams over the weekend.

Seay said Saturday’s win was big.

“Playing and beating two ranked teams is huge for us,” the freshman from Chicago said. “It gives us a lot of confidence as well.

Now, we have to stay humble and take care of business.”

The win against Division II Johnson County was not easy against a talented team that came in 5-0. Seay said Johnson County is good. Last year, WNCC fell to JCCC at this same classic.

“Johnson County is a really good team,” Seay said. “They have a lot of strong players.

But I think we stuck with them the whole game.”

Early on, Johnson County had the Cougars’ number. Johnson County held a 20-15 lead after the first quarter. It was the second quarter that changed the momentum for WNCC. The Cougars outscored JCCC 2210 to grab a 37-30 lead at halftime.

Even behind, the Cougars never stopped fighting. That was the key in the game.

“The team today played with a high intensity,” Seay said. “We came out strong knowing this game would be tough.”

The third quarter saw WNCC build a 45-32 lead before JCCC went on a 12-0 run to come within 45-44. Seay hit a bucket to put WNCC back up by three. JCCC tied the game at 47-47 before leading 51-48 after three periods.

The fourth quarter was tight. WNCC held a 58-54 lead late before Johnson County tied the game at 58 with under 30 seconds to play. WNCC worked for the last shot and Seay hit the trey at the buzzer for the win.

The buzzer-beater was her first as a college player, but she said she had plenty in

SOphie Agorakis looks to box out Nebraska All-star player Jessica Aratani. WNCC won three games last week, including wins over No. 18 Iowa Western and No. 2 Johnson County. high school.

“In the beginning of the game, I couldn’t hit a three,” she said. “So, I was kind of down on myself. But I was confident in this one and I’m glad it went in. In high school, I’ve hit a couple but this one was special because it was my first collegiate buzzer beater.”

WNCC shot 37 percent for the game, including 53 percent in the crucial second quarter. Johnson County shot 38 percent for the game, but were just 18 percent in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars had just two players in double figures. After Seay’s 24 points, Jaleesa Avery had 15 points. Merle Wiehl tallied seven points.

Avery and Giovanna Silva led the team in rebounding with eight boards each followed by seven from Seay.

The Cougars managed just three 3-pointers on the day, one each from Seay, Wiehl, and Melisa Kadic.

Johnson County had three players in double figures. Kylie Woods and Paige Elston each had 13 points followed by Cerena Reeves with 10.

The Cougars will take their 4-1 record into a weekend series of games at Sheridan

College when they face Little Big Horn and Sheridan. Seay says they must keep working.

“We still have a lot of work that needs to be done and a lot of things that we can easily fix,” Seay said. “We have to come out every game strong to win the games next weekend.”

WNCC (4-1) 15 22 14 10 – 61 Johnson County (5-1) 20 10 18 10 – 58 WNCC Melisa Kadic 5, Merle Wiehl 7, Jaleesa Avery 15, Anastacia Johnson 2, Giovanna Silva 4, Sophie Agorakis 4, Karli Seay 24.

JOHNSON COUNTY Cerena Reeves 10, Paige Elston 13, Ida Piesehl 5, Dachelle Terry 4, Sydney Jones 2, Jaella Brown 2, Kylie Woods 13, Jacionna Stowers 9.

WNCC 65, Iowa Western 53 WNCC (3-1) 14 18 19 14 – 65 Iowa Western (2-1) 11 12 19 11 – 53 WNCC Melisa Kadic 14, Merle Wiehl 17, Jaleesa Avery 17, Anatacia Johnson 5, Giovanna Silva 4, Karli Seay 8.

IOWA WESTERN Zheniah Jackson 7, Naomie Alnatas 7, Delia Ania Gaja 4, Jazza Johns 10, Kiara Dallmann 8, Zhane Williams 10, Elsa Pardo 2, Miya Bull 4.

COUGARS in the COMMUNITY TEAMMATES and Cougars meet up

Members of the Cougar baseball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer teams came together to play hoops, volleyball, and soccer with participants from the TEAMMATES organization on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Cougar Palace.

Cougar men top CSI, falls to Salt Lake

WNCC comes back to drop No. 10 CSI

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team held No. 10 College of Southern Idaho to just 30 second-half points in registering a win over the Golden Eagles 92-87 in the first day of the Fisher’s Tech Invitational at Twin Falls, Idaho, Nov. 10.

The Cougars, in picking up their second win of the season, put five players in double figures. Djodje Dimitrijevic and Vinnie Shahid each tallied 21 points for the Cougars.

Shahid also pulled down seven rebounds, dished off six assists, and went 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Dimitrijevic finished with three 3-pointers along with Trent Harris and Martin Roub.

WNCC head coach Cory Fehringer said the defense played well in the second half.

“We held them to 30 points in the second half and 34 percent shooting,” he said. “The first half there was no sign of defense. We came out at half and seemed to wake up. They remembered what it takes to defend and rebound.”

Fehringer said this team has a lot of offense, but when they can play defense, this team can be unstoppable.

“This team is offensively put together, but if they decide to rebound as a unit and play defense, they will be difficult to beat,” he said. “But it is too early in the season to be excited by a win. We

have to continue to come together.”

What a difference the two halves made, too. Just a week ago, CSI topped the Cougars 106-98 a week ago in Williston, North Dakota.

Friday’s contest saw CSI hold a 57-47 lead at intermission. The Golden Eagles even had a 60-47 lead to start the second half.

That was when WNCC turned the entire game around, going on a 13-0 run to tie the game at 60-60 on a Roub 3-pointer. WNCC pushed the lead to 78-71 after an 9-0 run and a bucket by Dimitrijevic bucket.

CSI came back to knot the score at 79 and the game stayed tight. CSI came back to take an 86-85 lead with 1:35 to play. WNCC followed with a bucket by Jervay Green for an 87-86 lead. After a missed bucket, two free throws with 20 seconds to play made it 89-86. Green later hit one of two free throws with 10 second to play to make it 90-87 before two late free throws gave the Cougars the five-point win.

After the CSI win on Friday, WNCC battled Salt Lake Community College on Saturday, but just couldn’t get over the hump in falling 105-84.

WNCC stayed with the hot Bruins in the first half, only trailing 55-42 and much of the second half the Cougars stayed around the 10-point deficit.

WNCC shot 40 percent for the game, including burying 11 3-pointers. Bryce Sanchious had four treys while Trent Harris poured in three trays.

Marlon Sierra led the Cougars with 26 points. Sierra was 9-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw

line. Sierra also pulled down five rebounds, dished off four assists, blocked two shots, and had three steals.

Also finishing with double digit scoring was Sanchious with 14 points, Harris with 13, Shahid with 12, and Martin Roub with 10.

WNCC will be back in aciion with five straight home contests, beginning this weekend when they host Central Wyoming on Friday and Western Wyoming on Saturday. After that, the Cougars will have a four-team Thanksgiving Classic.

The day after Thanksgiving, Trinidad State will battle Quakerdale Prep at 5:30 before WNCC takes on Frank Phillips at 7:30. Saturday’s action has Trinidad facing Frank Philips at 2 p.m. and WNCC and Quakerdale Prep at 4 p.m.

WNCC (2-1) 47 45 – 92 CSI 57 30 – 87 WNCC Marlon Sierra 9, Jervay Green 15, Djodje Dimitrijevic 21, Martin Roub 11, Vinnie Shahid 21, Marko Rajanovic 4, Trent Harris 11.

CSI Roche Grottfaam 6, Danye Kingsby 14, Khaid Thomas 13, Jake Hendricks 14, Charles Jones 23, Roberto Gittens 8, Nic Aquirre 4, Malik Porter 2, Keegan Hanson 3.

Salt Lake 105, WNCC 84 WNCC (2-2) 42 42 -- 84 Salt Lake (6-0) 55 50 -- 105 WNCC Marlon Sierra 26, Jervey Green 7, Djordji Dimitrejevic 2, Martin Roub 10, Vinnie Shahid 12, Trent Harris 13, Bryce Sanchious 14.

$100 Club Monthly Winners

September Winners

$150 — Kimberly Belford, ..............Ft. Collins, Colorado $100 — Jeff Peck, .............................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Shawn Hergenreder, ..............Scotsbluff, Nebraska

October Winners

$150 — Sabrina Kadic, .................. West Valley City, Utah $100 — Roxie Shaul, ................................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Scott & Amy Winters, ................ Scottsbluff, Nebraska

November Winners

$150 — Joan Koehler.......................... Gering, Nebraska $100 — Lynn Wolworth..............................Mitchell, Nebraska $50 — Rudy & Angie Hernandez................ Gering, Nebraska

Each month the winners will be announced here as well on the WNCC athletic website at wnccathletics.com

Softball team holds hitting camp for youngsters

Former Cougar Paulson starting for Bonnies

Former WNCC women’s basketball player has become a starter for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the NCAA Division first two games.

Paulson had a big night in the Bonnies season opener in helping the St. Bonaventure to a 7658 win over Niagara over the weekend.

St. Bona trailed by as much as 17 points in the second quarter and trailed 35-24 at halftime.

It was what they did in the second half that helped them get the win and Paulson was in the middle of it.

Sophomore Danielle Migliore and junior transfer Paulson were clutch, connecting on back-to-back 3-pointers on the first two possessions of the second half, setting the tone for what was to come. By the time the quarter was through, St. Bonaventure had tallied 34 points – the most for the program in a single quarter since the game shifted to a four-quarter format for the 2015-16 season.

Paulson made her DIvision debut by finishing with 14 points including sinking three treys on 5-of-8 shooting.

Paulson got her second start on Sunday against Sierra, where St. Boniventure fell 70-62. Paulson had just three points on one trey.

WNCC softball holding pitching clinic

The WNCC softball team will hold a pitching clinic for girls in grades second to eighth grade on Sunday, December 3 from 2-5 p.m.

The clinic will be held at WNCC’s Cougar Palace and will be conducted by WNCC softball coach Katelyn Groves and current players.

The clinic costs $35 and participants are asked to bring a glove and water bottle.

For a camp registration, co to the WNCC athletic website at www.wnccathletics.com and go to the camp tab. For more information, contact softball coach Katelyn Groves at grovesk@wncc.edu.

Send off conversation WNCC volleyball players Kadara Marshall, Lauren Shaul, and Logan Belford get ready for the send off for the team on Monday. Here Shaul is checking out a text or something on her phone while Marshall and Belford watch before the send off.

Cougars at the 4-year level 2014-15 Softball/Soccer Kelsey Bernhardt................................... Doane Men’s Soccer Ivan Sakou.......................Lipscomb University 2015-16 Softball Whitney Fields............................. Adams State Brittany Bigge........................... Ft. Lewis State Haille Weber.................................. Metro State Courtney Medina................. Lubbock Christian Kenzie Sawyer............................... Dixie State Christian Bobian.......... New Mexico Highlands Volleyball Fabiana Andrade................... CSU-Bakersfield Keala Kaio Perez................ Alaska-Anchorage Katy Ernest.........................Nebraska-Kearney Women’s Basketball Kalli Feddersen.........................Chadron State Hannah Sparks.......................... Montana Tech Brooke Zimmerman........................McPherson Men’s Basketball Phil Fayne.................................... Illinois State Soccer Jorge Ortega.........................Hastings College Omar Guzman................ Louisiana-Alexandria MIguel Enriquez............. Louisiana-Alexandria Blake Wills.............................Hastings College Rhiannon Castle....................Hastings College Corrie McDonald..........................York College Hannah Wilke...............................York College Isabel Hunter.................. Point Park University Baseball Bradley Brown....................Nebraska-Kearney Beau Lofink................................. Adams State Jack Pauley........................ Northern Colorado

2016-17 Volleyball Kaylee Spreier............................. Dakota State Alwaise Villa................................ Dakota State Lara Picht.................................... Oral Roberts Danika Daum.........................Henderson State Softball Jasmine Wessel............................ Metro State Lauren Oxford.................... West Virginia Tech Celyn Whitt.................................... Metro State Analace Apodaca...................Regis University Emily Selby............................... Ft. Lewis State Cassie Jones....................... Friends University Women’s Basketball Bree Paulson.......................... St. Bonaventure Zeynep Canbaz................... Middle Tennessee Sladjana Rakovic...............................Wyoming Deniz Dahligran................................ Tusculum Men’s Basketball Michael Connor.............. Point Park University Austin Payne...........................Dickinson State Jeremy Ruffin............................Chadron State Baseball Brandon Bachar........................ Emporia State Alex Achermann...................Nebraka-Kearney Ryan Grasser............................ Ft. Hays State Stuart Eurich....................................... Bellevue Isaac Taylor...................... McPherson College Nate Giefer..............Colorado School of Mines Ian Fisher............................ University of Mary Lincoln Trujillo.................................Jamestown Soccer Matheus Campos................ Lady of the Lakes Matheus Ricardo... U. of Louisiana-Shreveport JP Santos.............. U. of Louisiana-Shreveport Billy Hoffman....................... Nebraska-Omaha Sierra Benavidez..............Benedictine College Janie McAmis.........................Black Hills State

Parting Shot

The WNCC volleyball team presents the Region IX championship trophy to Nina Grant, vice present of Student Services during a send off and recognition for the team on Monday, Nov. 13. The team will open up play Thursday afternoon against New Mexico Military. The video is available on NJCAATV with a pay-per-view cost or you can listen to the game in the Scottsbluff area on Sunny 99.3FM.

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