North Platte —The North Platte Community College Knights basketball defeated the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars Saturday evening 90-73 in an important National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-Region game.
The win also avenged a loss to the Cougars in Scottsbluff earlier in the season.
The Knights jumped out to an early 10-2 lead and never trailed throughout the game.
The Knight’s Victor Lewis scored 11 of the Knights first 22 points to pace the Knights in the first half.
They held a 37-32 halftime lead.
One of the keys was the Knights success at the free throw line. The Knights made 20 of 25 free throws. Leito Holloway went 10 for 12 individually from the line.
The Cougars are now 15-10 overall and 5-8 in the South Sub-Region. The Knights are 15-9 and 7-5 in the sub-region. The top four teams in the sub-region will host a first round game of the Region IX tournament. Currently, Otero Junior College leads the South Sub-Region with an 11-1 record. Laramie County is second with an 8-4 record. North Platte, Trinidad and Lamar each have five losses.
The Knights had balanced scoring with five scoring in double figures led by Holloway with 19 points. Lewis finished with 17 points. Diontae Champion and Tyree Peter each had 16 points and Jordan Mills finished with 10 points. Peter also had 17 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.
The Cougars had three players in double figures led by Michael Sparks who led all scorers with 23 points. Daylon Harris and Phil Fayne each scored 11 points. Fayne and Tyrell Williams each had 11 rebounds.
The Knights will host Laramie County on Wednesday, February 10. Tip-off is at 7 pm CST.