North Platte —The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team fell in two National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-Region contests over the weekend.  On Friday, they traveled to Trinidad, Colo., and were defeated by the Trinidad Sate Junior College Trojans 79-72.  On Saturday, the Knights traveled to La Junta, Colo., and lost to the Otero Junior College Rattlers 92-69.

On Friday, the Knights started out slowly, allowing the Trojans to take a 14-1 lead.  Mike Amius made the first field goal for the Knights with just under 13 minutes to go in the first half.  Diontae Champion made a three-pointer to cut the Trojan lead to eight with 1:25 to go in the half 35-27.  Trinidad led at the break 39-29.

In the second half, the Trojans had a double digit lead for the first portion of the second half.  Champion pulled the Knights within nine 66-57 with 8:30 to play with a free throw.  Tyree Peter’s field goal brought the Knights within four, 71-67 but that was the closest they would come.

Amius led the Knights in scoring with 19 points.  Champion finished with 17.  Jordan Mills added 14 and Tim Wagner added 10 points.  Champion and Peter finished with eight rebounds.

Chris Williams was one of three Trojans to score in double figures with 27 points.  Yephnick Adephonse finished with 14 points and Elijah Kess had 13 points.  Treyvon Andres finished with 10 rebounds.

The Knights out-rebounded the Trojans 42-36.

Against Otero, the Rattlers outscored the Knights 53-34 in the first half.

The Knights shot only 38.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free-throw line.  The Rattlers were 52.3 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from the free throw line.

One of the keys of the game was that the Rattlers made 15 three-pointers out of 28 for a percentage of 53.6.  The Knights made seven of 15 for 46. 7 percent.

The Knights had three players in double figures led by Champion with 24 points. He also added 11 rebounds for a double-double.  Wagner was the second Knight to score in double figures with 13 points.  Wagner also had six assists.  The final player in double digits was Peter who had 10 points.

The Rattlers had four players in double digits led by Brandon Book and Walter Bateast with 16 points apiece.  Derris Miles added 15 points and Charles Gavin had 10 points.  Gavin also had 12 rebounds.

The Knights are now 18-11 on the season and 8-7 in South Sub-Region play.  Otero is 24-5 and 14-1 in South Sub-Region play.  The Rattlers have clinched the number one seed in the sub-region.  Trinidad is 15-14 and 8-7 in South Sub-Region play.

Otero and Trinidad will play each other at Trinidad on Tuesday, Feb 23. North Platte plays McCook Community College in McCook that same night. Current standings are:

14-1 – Otero Junior College
9-6 – Lamar Community College
9-7 – Laramie County Community College
8-7 – North Platte Community College
8-7 – Trinidad State Junior College
7-8 – Northeastern Junior College
7-9 – Western Nebraska Community College
6-9 – McCook Community College
1-15 – Eastern Wyoming College

The Knights and McCook game will be broadcast on ESPN 1410 and www.northplattepost.com.  It will also be livestreamed on www.coachesaid.com.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm CST.