WNCC tops Air Force Prep 78-70

WNCC tops Air Force Prep 78-70
(WNCC Sports Information)
January 26th, 2022 | WNCC Sports Information

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 20 points from Rodney Sawyer and had five players in double figures in registering a 78-70 win over Air Force Prep Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace.

“We played as a team for starters,” WNCC freshman Rodney Sawyer said. “I feel like coach drew up some good plays and we executed.”

The win Tuesday revenged a 97-70 loss to Air Force Prep back in the first weekend of January in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sawyer said the difference between the two games was the team played with more energy Tuesday night.

“I really don’t know what the difference was. I think the energy wasn’t there for starters in the first game. Our team chemistry wasn’t there. But this game it was all there. It was just all there.”

And a lot of that energy starts with the defensive intensity when the Cougars were playing tough, they had strong defensive energy.

“Defense wins games and championships,” Sawyer said.

The Cougars led for much of the contest even though there were six lead changes and six ties.

The biggest lead change came in the second half. WNCC held a 42-31 lead at halftime and led 50-35 early in the second half on a Biko Johnson bucket.

The Huskies came storming back to grab a 56-55 lead on a bucket by Solomon Jones with 9:10 to play.

Sawyer said that for them to stop the Prep’s run and taking a big lead was vital in getting the win. That was the turning point of the contest.

“That was huge because all we needed was some energy, some good teamwork, and some passing,” he said. “We just got the dunk going and that was the key.”

After that, the Cougars turned up the intensity, ran off 15 straight points, and lead 70-56. Sawyer was the big reason as he flexed his muscle inside and scored 11 straight including a couple power dunks.

The lead wasn’t safe as the Huskies came back to cut the Cougar lead to 70-63 with about four minutes to play and trailed 73-67 with two minutes to play. Johnson hit one of two free throws and then Air Force Prep came back down the court and nailed a trey to cut the Cougar lead to 74-70.

WNCC kept playing with intensity as Agwa Nywesh slammed home two points for a six-point lead and then Sawyer hit two free throws to make the score 78-70 to seal the win.

WNCC shot 50 percent from the field while Air Force Prep shot 43 percent. Both teams hit free throws as Air Force Prep was 21-of-24 while WNCC was 20-of-26.

Neither team could make 3-pointers as Air Force Prep shot just 15 percent from the arc (3-of-20) while WNCC was 27 percent (6-of-22).

The Cougars lost the rebound battle 32-29, but had 13 steals compared to seven for the Huskies.

WNCC was led by Sawyer with 20 points, including five rebounds and four steals. Nywesh was next with 13 points, four assists, and seven rebounds. After that, three players finished with 12 points each with Carter Brown, Biko Johnson, and Them Koang. Johnson had a double-double with 10 rebounds in the game.

Air Force Prep had three in double figures. Rytis Petraitis finished with 23 points with eight rebounds while going 12-of-15 from the free throw line. Rashad King tallied 22 points with a 6-for-6 performance from the line, followed by Vincent Brady with 12 points.

WNCC, 12-7, will be back in action this weekend when they host a pair of South sub-region contests. Friday, the Cougars play host to Otero Junior College in a women’s and men’s doubleheader with women’s action beginning at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m. Friday night is also WNCC Athletic Hall of Fame induction night when the Cougars induct former Cougar player Bernard Garner and distinguished supporter Neal and Lora Blomenkamp/Runza.

WNCC will then host Trinidad State Junior College on Saturday with the women starting at 2 p.m. and the men at 4 p.m.

Friday’s game with Otero is going to be huge since Otero is leading the South sub-region along with NJC with 3-0 marks. Sawyer said they need to play just like they did today and maybe even a little better to defeat Otero.

“We have to play defense and rebound. That is about it,” he said. “Defense and rebound is the key to winning.”

Air Force Prep                   31 39 – 70

WNCC (12-7)                      42 36 – 78

WNCC

Carter Brown 12, Rodney Sawyer 20, Biko Johnson 12, Carl Thorpe 2, Agwa Nywesh 13, Chancelor Johnson 3, Turumbil Zaki 2, Mamadou Sow 2, Them Koang 12.

AIR FORCE PREP

Vincent Brady 12, Chris Felix 3, Rashad King 22, Rytis Petraitis 23, Solomon Jones 6, Marcell McCreary 4.

Share:

© 2024 Nebraska Rural Radio Association. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information