THE NUMBERS GAME
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Points, five rebounds, five assists and no turnovers Morris for Iowa State senior Monte Morris Wednesday in ISU’s 96-86 w.
REGIONAL SCORES
SWCC men’s hoops stay second in poll STAFF REPORT
The Southwestern Community College men’s basketball team remained number two in the NJCAA Division II top 20 poll released Wednesday. South Suburban (Ill.) is the top-ranked team and is 17-0. Southwestern is second and is 16-0. The Spartans entertain 16th-ranked Kirkwood (11-3) Saturday to open Iowa Community College Atheltic Conference play. Tip is set for 3 p.m. in Creston.
Taylor lauded by conference STAFF REPORT
PELLA — Central College men’s basketball player Colby Taylor was named the Iowa Conference male athlete of the week after averaging 29.5 points p e r g a m e Taylor a n d ascending to the top of the program’s all-time scoring list. The Creston product was also recognized as the league’s men’s basketball player of the week. Entering Wednesday’s night game at home against Luther College, Taylor needed 27 points to pass Jeff Verhoef ’80 for the top spot on the scoring list. After a slow start in the first half, he ended up with 30 points to take over the No. 1 slot. Central beat the Norse 8267. In a 94-87 loss against Buena Vista University Saturday, Taylor had 29 more points. He also had 12 points in six rebounds combined in the two games. It’s the fourth time Taylor has been named the league player of the week, previously being cited January 11, 2015; December 7, 2014 and February 23, 2014. Central continued the season on Wednesday night at home against Loras College.
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SPORTS
Creston News Advertiser | Thursday, January 12, 2017
COLLEGE BASKETBALL Program-building win for Southwestern women By KALEB CARTER
CNA sports reporter kacarter@crestonnews.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Southwestern Community College women’s basketball team could have folded when they went down quickly on the road at NJCAA Division-II 9th-ranked Kansas City Community College. It was a daunting task after all, playing on the road against the defending national champions after having not played for a month. Instead, it was the Spartans who held on to a monumental 63-61 vic-
tory Wednesday. The Spartans fell behind early but played big-time basketball the rest of the way. “I didn’t hit the panic button with our team,” Southwestern coach Addae Houston said. “I wanted us to keep pushing through it and I didn’t even call a timeout during that run (to start the game). We managed to keep our composure and keep battling.” Trailing 33-32 at half, Houston had seen his team play the way he wanted to in a high octane second quarter that featured several lead changes. Coming out of the locker
room and playing strong had been an issue coming into the game. “One thing that we struggled with this year was competing in then third quarter like Houston we’re capable of,” Houston said. Not only did the Spartans compete, they excelled in a big way. The Spartans outscored the Blue Devils 22-7 in the third. Southwestern shot the ball well and made stops. Those two things were big in
the Spartans pulling off the win. Between Fallyn Beemer and Julanie Carter, the two knocked down a combined 11 3-pointers and scored 38 points, continuing their scalding hot shooting from before the break. The Spartans locked down the Blue Devils in that quarter and for portions of the game thanks to the decision to mix things up on the defensive end and the women executing the game plan. “We played a combination defense where we run a zone and play into a man-to-man out of it,” SWCC| 11A
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Dynamic scoring duo NV seniors Clarke, McElfish eclipse 1,000point mark
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By RYAN KRONBERG CNA sports editor rkronberg@crestonnews.com
GREENFIELD — Josie Clarke and Paige McElfish came into the Nodaway Val-
ley girls basketball program already with plenty of experience playing together. The classmates started playing on the basketball court in fourth grade. All of those experiences in their younger days and throughout high school at Nodaway Valley have made them a force on the basketball court. Both have found ways to be successful offensive players in their own way, via different means. Their dynamic play on the
offensive end helped them reach a milestone this season. Both eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier this season. Clarke did it early in the season, while McElfish did it in Friday’s home win over Pleasantville. “We’ve really bonded over the years,” McElfish said. “It’s fun.” Their chemistry shows. McElfish leads the Wolverines with 18.2 points per game, while Clarke is averaging 16.5. Both are shoot-
ing just under 50 percent for the season. “She always knows where I’m at and I know where she’s at,” Clarke said. “We have some of the best passes to each other. We have good kickouts and good drives.” McElfish knows how to pass Clarke the ball and vice-versa.
“I know where she’s at, where she wants the pass,” McElifsh said. “She knows where I want the pass.” Clarke works in the low post and from the mid range area, while McElfish drives to the basket. “Josie’s really good NV | 11A
CNA photo by RYAN KRONBERG
ABOVE —Nodaway Valley senior Paige McElfish drives to the basket during the Wolverines home game against East Union on Dec. 20. McElifsh scored her 1,000th-career point in a win over Pleasantville this past Friday. CNA photo by KALEB CARTER
AT LEFT — Nodaway Valley senior Josie Clarke looks to put up a shot during the Wolverines’ game at East Union on Dec. 2 in Afton. Clarke scored her 1,000th-career point earlier this season.
KRONBERG’S KORNER
Drake women off to strong start in Missouri Valley DES MOINES — There was already plenty of good buzz in the Knapp Center Sunday afternoon after the men’s basketball team picked up a solid 88-76 win over Evansville. The energy and excitement carried over into the women’s game against Southern Illinois. Drake fed off it and used it to garner a 75-59 win. “(Sunday) was a great day. It means a lot,” said Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk. “There hasn’t been a lot of times we’ve had a doubleheader and both teams have won. That’s a big deal for us. There was really good energy around here.” The players used the home court excitement to win their fifth straight overall and fourth consec-
Kronberg’s korner Ryan Kronberg sports editor
utive to start Missouri Valley Conference play. “It’s always fun to play at the Knapp,” said Lizzy Wendell. Drake’s women’s basketball team started out well, then picked up the intensity even more in the third quarter. The Bulldogs led 6042 after three quarters. “At halftime, our goal was to come out strong in the third quarter,” Wendell said. “We passed the ball. We stepped up on defense. It helped us pull away.” The Bulldogs outscored the Sa-
lukis 22-7 in the third quarter. Defense led the charge. “We needed to pressure the ball more, make sure we got out on them more,” Baranczyk said. “They were very comfortable from the three-point line. We made some adjustments.” Wendell led the way offensively with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting. “Lizzy did a great job in the first quarter. She took some really good looks that didn’t go in. She really let the game come to her.” Becca Jonas added 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. “Our whole team did a really good job on offense of trying to stay in system, moving the ball,” Jonas said. “We got a lot of good looks.” Drake capped a 2-0 weekend
homestand. The Bulldogs defeated Evansville 82-65 on Friday in Des Moines. Playing twice in three days works well for the DRAKE | 12A CNA photo by RYAN KRONBERG
AT RIGHT — Drake senior Lizzy Wendell drives to the basket during the first half of Sunday’s game against Southern Illinois at the Knapp Center as head coach Jennie Baranczyk looks on. Drake moved to 11-4 overall and 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 75-59 win. Drake is at Bradley Friday and Illinois State Sunday.