The North Platte Community College Knights and Lady Knights basketball teams will be hosting the Southeast Community College Storm on Friday, Feb. 20 at McDonald – Belton Gymnasium on the south campus.
The night is full of activity. Besides the basketball games, the night has been designated Elementary Night. Any child wearing their school t-shirt and their families will be admitted into the game free. Also, because of the cancellation of a previous women’s game against York College Junior Varsity, it will also be “Girl Scout Night”. Any scout in uniform and their families will be admitted free. Also the scouts in uniform will receive a free ticket for popcorn at the concession stand. This is for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors or Ambassadors. In addition, the Hometown Cats, a local roller derby team, will be on hand to sign autographs between the women’s and men’s games. They will also be giving away two tickets for their March roller event.
The women’s game will be a crucial game in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II standings. Currently the Lady Storm are leading Division II with a 3-0 record in the division. The Lady Knights are in second with a 2-1 record. Their only loss was to the Lady Storm on Jan 17 at Beatrice 71-57. If the Lady Knights beat the Lady Storm by 15 or more points, the Lady Knights will have a first game bye and will host the Region IX Division II Championship game on March 2 against the winner on Feb. 25 between Southeast and Central. If the Lady Knights lose or do not win by 15 or more points, they will host Central Community College at McDonald – Belton Gymnasium on Feb 25.
The Lady Knights are 13-11 on the season. They are led in scoring by sophomore April Stull from Sweeny, Texas, averaging 15.7 points per game. Stull is currently seventh on the Lady Knights all-time scoring list with 705 points. Sophomore Aliyah Brown from Omaha Burke is the only other Lady Knight averaging in double-figures with 10.6 points per game. Brown is coming off a career high 24 points against Doane College Junior Varsity. Stull leads the Lady Knights in rebounding with 8.6 rebounds per game.
The Lady Storm are 19-6 on the season and are led in scoring by Breanna Grant. Grant is averaging 14.5 points per game. Veshae Wilkinson is the only other Lady Storm averaging in double figures with 10.2 points per game. Wilkinson also leads Southeast in rebounding with 6.9 rebounds per game.
The men’s game is a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference game. It does not count in the Region IX standings.
The Knights are 20-6 overall and 4-0 in the conference. The Knights are led by Cameron Williams in scoring with 22.4 points per game. The sophomore from Omaha South High School is currently leading Region IX South sub-region in scoring and is 11th in the nation. Williams is also 14th on the Knights all-time scoring list with 1022 points in his career. Sophomore Marco Pascolo is second on the Knights in scoring with 11.1 points per game. Pascolo also leads the team in rebounding with 7.9 rebounds per game. Freshman Shyquinn Dix is the only other Knight to average in double-figures with 10.4 points per game.
The Storm are 11-17 on the season and 1-4 in conference play. They are led in scoring by John Swift with 10.6 points per game and Altez Davis with 10.5 points per game. Snyder Cenecharles is averaging 10.1 points per game. Davis leads the Storm in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per game.
The games may be viewed on www.coachesaid.com . Tip-off for the women’s game is 5:30 p.m. The men’s game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Both times are CST.