2016-17 All-SWC Boys Basketball

1st Team
Dawson Graham, Gothenburg
Padyn Borders, Broken Bow
Ty Clement, Gothenburg
Dillon Higgins, Ogallala
Hunter Pottfhoff, McCook

2nd Team
Blaine Emerson, Cozad
Collin Hahn, Gothenburg
Colby Rezac, Ogallala
Kevin Linn, Broken Bow
Elijah Lovin, Minden

3rd Team
Trestian Siemering, Cozad
Gage Delimont, Ainsworth
Tanner Linn, Broken Bow
Bennett Folkers, Gothenburg
Toby Salazar, Cozad

2016-17 All-SWC Girls Basketball

1st Team
Taylor Kissinger, Minden
Sarah Yocum, Cozad
Gracie Steinike, Gothenburg
Carrie Jones, Broken Bow
Amanda Kroeger, Ogallala

2nd Team
Kyla Swanson, Minden
Jaden Bryant, McCook
Matty Hoskins, Minden
Miah Wiebelhaus, Ainsworth
Sarah Shelbourn, Valentine

3rd Team
Karissa Barnes, Ogallala
Kennedy Berreckman, Cozad
Janessa Madsen, Minden
Alli Kirkpatrick, Broken Bow
Mckena Peterson, Gothenburg

North Platte – It is an honor and an accomplishment for a player to be named a National Junior College All-Region player in a sport. North Platte Community College’s Jessica Lovitt was named to the Region IX Division II team in both volleyball and basketball during the 2016-2017 season.

Lovitt, a sophomore from Mullen played two seasons for the Lady Knight volleyball team and decided to also play basketball in her sophomore season.

Both Lady Knight volleyball coach Alexa McCall and basketball coach Richard Thurin said that Jessica is a great person both on and off the courts.

McCall said, “Jessica was a leader from day one and the other girls picked up on her work ethic.”

Thurin also praised Lovitt’s work ethic.

Thurin said, “We could count on Jessica. She knows what she has to do to get accomplished what needed to be done.”

McCall said, “I am proud of her and her accomplishments. It is a big time commitment to play two sports in college.”

In volleyball, Lovitt played two seasons for the Lady Knights and was an All-Region IX performer in both years. She finished her career with 495 kills, 235 total blocks, which is 12th on the school all-time list in career blocks, 59 service aces, and 229 defensive digs.

On the basketball court, Lovitt was second on the Lady Knights in scoring at 12.4 ppg. She had scored in double figures her last 14 games. She led the Knights in offensive rebounds with 85 and finished second in total rebounds with 6.7 rpg. Lovitt had four double-doubles on the season

Lovitt is only the third Lady Knight to be named to the All-Region IX teams in both sports. The first was Carolyn Williams during the 1982-83 season. The other Lady Knight to accomplish this was Jennifer Tjaden in the 1995-96 season.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team had three players named to the Region IX Division II basketball team for the 2016-17 season. They are Thomesha Wilson, Jessica Lovitt, and Allison Tichy. They were also named to the Region IX Division II All-Tournament team.

Lady Knight Head Coach Richard Thurin was named Region IX Divisison II Coach of the Year in his 16th and final season. Thurin also won coach of the year in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Thurin said, “All three girls were consistent throughout the season. You could count on them and were leaders on and off the court.”

Wilson, a sophomore from Omaha, played her high school basketball at Omaha North High School. This season Wilson led the Lady Knights in four categories. Wilson averaged 13.6 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, had a 45.2 percent field goal percentage and a 74.8 free throw percentage. Wilson was second in Region IX Division II in scoring. Wilson had nine double-doubles on the season.

Lovitt, a sophomore from Mullen was second on the Lady Knights in scoring at 12.4 ppg. She had scored in double figures her last 14 games. She led the Knights in offensive rebounds with 85 and finished second in total rebounds with 6.7 rpg. Lovitt had four double-doubles.

Tichy, a freshman from Bellevue, played her high school at Bellevue East High School. Tichy averaged 8.8 points per game, led the Lady Knights in three-pointers with 48 and three-point field goal percentage at 33.1 percent. Tichy had a career high in scoring with 19 points against Central Community College twice, once in Columbus and the other in the Region IX Division II championship game.

Wilson, Lovitt, and Tichy are three of 42 Lady Knights to receive all-region status in the history of the program.

The other members of the Region IX Division II team are Jay’la Brown from Southeast Community College, Teisha Snyder and Payton Blanke from Central Community College.

Other members of the Region IX Division II All-Tournament team are: Dalen Piliati from Southeast Community College, Blanke and Maddy Wolfe from Central Community College.

North Platte – The basketball season came to an end for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights on Saturday afternoon, being defeated by the Dakota College at Bottineau Lady Jacks 70-63 at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

It was the final game for Lady Knight Head Coach Richard Thurin, who is retiring after 16 years at the helm of the Lady Knights.

It was also the final game in a Lady Knights uniform for sophomores Aljahnay Duncan, Mai’Zhrae Duncan, Caroline Delatour, Thomesha Wilson, Mickenzie Brennan, and Jessica Lovitt.

The Lady Jacks started out the game with three-pointers by Stephanie Brendan and Darby Deckert to give them the lead over the Lady Knights 6-2. The Lady Knights took their first lead at 10-9 on a putback basket by Lovitt. There were four lead changes in the first quarter and the Lady Knights held a 16-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Lady Knights held the lead throughout the second quarter and led by as much as six at 26-20. They held a 28-24 lead at halftime.

The Lady Jacks tied the score at 34 on a field goal by Victoria Obergfell. The Lady Jacks took the lead at 37-34 on a three-pointer by Deckert. After a three-pointer by the Lady Knights Victoria Brown, the Lady Jacks Chelsie Deibert hit two three-pointers to give the Lady Jacks the lead for good at 43-37. The Lady Jacks held a 45-42 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Lady Jacks leading 59-56 went on an 11-2 run to put the game out of reach at 70-56.

The Lady Knights finish the season at 10-19. Lovitt led the Lady Knights in scoring with a career high 24 points. Lovitt has scored in double figures her last 13 games. The Knights season leading scorer Thomesha Wilson finished the game with 15 points. The other Lady Knight to score in double figures was Victoria Brown with 12 points on four three-pointers. Lovitt led the Lady Knights with nine rebounds

The Lady Jacks, 16-14 advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Division II National Tournament in Harrison, Ark., March 20-25. The Lady Jacks were led in scoring by Madison Erickson with 18 points. Four other Lady Jacks finished in double figures. Obergfell and Deibert each had 14 points. Deckert added 12 points and Brendan had 11 points. Erickson also led the Lady Jacks with nine rebounds.

Columbus – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team won the first and only game of the scheduled doubleheader against the Central Community College Lady Raiders 12-3 on Thursday afternoon.

Knights Head Coach Janelle Higgins said, “There were 30 mile per hour winds throughout the entire game and it felt like 30 degrees.”

Erin Renwick picked up the win. Shelly Heredia and Alyiah Franco each homered in the game.

The second game of the doubleheader and both games tomorrow have been postponed due to cold temperatures. No make up date has been set.

The Knights, 8-13, are scheduled to travel to Beatrice on Sunday March 12 to face the Southeast Community College Lady Storm in a double header. Game times are at noon and 2 pm.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will open their Region IX Division II portion of their schedule when they travel to Columbus on Thursday, March 9 and Friday, March 10 to play the Central Community College Lady Raiders in doubleheaders on both days.

The Lady Raiders are 2-12 on the season. Mackenzie Eller is leading the Lady Raiders in hitting, batting .414 in 29 at bats. Maddie Kucera has a .382 batting average, but has a .675 slugging percentage with three doubles, two doubles and a home run. Kucera also leads the Lady Raiders with eight runs batted in.
Danica Schaefer and Katelyn Keene, both have also had one home run for the Lady Raiders.

In the ring, Carsen Nelson has a 2-3 record with a 2.84 earned run average and 17 strikeouts in six appearances.

The Knights are 7-13 on the season. Samantha Foster in 73 at bats has a .479 batting average and 21 rbi. Samantha Gill leads the Lady Knights in slugging percentage at .754 and home runs with two.

Foster also leads in multiple pitching categories: a 3.02 earned run average, 33 strikeouts and nine complete games. She also has a 3-7 record. Erin Renwick has a 3.88 era and 29 sitrikeouts.

Game times on Thursday are at 5 pm and 7 pm. On Friday, the games are at noon and 2 pm.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team defeated the Central Community College Lady Raiders 78-50 to win the Region IX Division II championship Monday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Raiders had an abbreviated roster and only suited up five players.

The Lady Knights jumped out to a 11-2 lead and led the entire game. They held a 21-9 lead after the first quarter.

The Lady Knights outscored the Lady Raiders 18-12 in the second quarter to take a 39-21 advantage at the break. Allison Tichy scored 13 of her team high 19 points in the first half.

At the beginning of the third quarter, the Lady Knights scored the first six points to push the lead to 24 at 45-21. The Lady Raiders followed up with their biggest run of the game scoring the next eight points to make the lead 45-29. The Lady Knights held a 56-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Knights started the fourth quarter by going on a 15-8 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 71-43.

The Lady Knights, now 10-18, had four players in double figures led by Tichy’s 19 points. Thomesha Wilson was next with 16 points, followed by Jessica Lovitt with 12 points. Lexa Lealiiee added 11 points. Wilson and Lovitt each recorded a double-double with 12 and 11 rebounds respectively.

Lovitt, Wilson, and Tichy were all named to the Division II All-Region IX team and the All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team.

The Lady Raiders finish their season at 14-15. Maddie Wolfe led all scorers with 25 points. Megan Fiala was the only other Lady Raider in double figures with 14 points. Payton Blanke recorded 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders.

The Lady Knights continue their season on Saturday, March 11 hosting Region 13 winner Dakota College at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium at 3 pm for the District F playoff. The winner of that game will advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Division II National Tournament in Harrison, Ark.

La Junta, Colo. – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team ended their 2016-17 season in a Region IX heartbreaking first round game loss to the Otero Junior College Rattlers 70-68.

This was the second time this season that the Knights lost the game on a buzzer beater to the Rattlers on the road.

The Rattlers opened up the game on a 5-0 run and led throughout the entire game. The halftime score was 41-36 in favor of the Rattlers.

In the second half, the Rattlers held a double digit lead for most of the half, but the Knights started their comeback by holding the Rattlers to no points for nearly the last five minutes. Mike Amius tied the game at 68-68 on a couple of free throws. The Rattlers got the ball back with just over 10 seconds to play. Charles Gavin put up a shot at the buzzer and was tipped in by another Rattler. After a discussion among the officials, they counted the basket and the Rattlers move on in the tournament.

The Knights end their season at 22-8.

The Knights had three players in double figures led by Amius with 20 points. Samuel Kearns was next with 18 points and Godfrey Rolle added 14 points. Amius also had nine rebounds.

It was the final game for sophomores Diontae Champion, who had six points tonight and finished his Knights career with 930 points, which places him 21st on the Knights all-time scoring list; Jordan Mills, Victor Lewis, David Niklasson, and Mike Amius.

The Rattlers improve to 20-8 on the season and advance to play the top seed in the North, Gillette College. Gillette defeated Little Big Horn 117-91 in their opening round.

The Rattlers had four players in double figures led by Michael Sparks with 17 points. Jordan Jones finished with 13 points. Gavin and Jervae Robinson each tallied 12 points. Sekou Cisse had nine rebounds to lead the Rattlers.

The Region IX tournament will resume on Thursday in Gillette, Wyo.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team will face the Central Community College Lady Raiders for the championship of Region IX Women’s Division II on Monday, March 6 at 7 pm, at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Raiders defeated the Southeast Community College Lady Storm, 79-65, to advance to the championship game against the Lady Knights.

The two teams split during the regular season with the Lady Knights winning at home 60-58, and the Lady Raiders winning in Columbus, 82-80.

The winner of the game will advance to and host the District F playoff against Region XIII on March 11

The Lady Raiders are 14-14 on the season and are seeded second in the tournament. Teisha Snyder leads the Lady Raiders in scoring with 20.7 points per game. Payton Blanke is the only other Lady Raider to average in double figures at 11.7 ppg. Blanke also leads the Lady Raiders in rebounding with 8.8 rebounds per game.

The Lady Knights are 9-18 on the season and hold the number one seed in the tournament. Thomesha Wilson leads the Lady Knights in scoring at 13.5 ppg. Jessica Lovitt is the other Lady Knight averaging in double figures at 11.9 ppg. Wilson leads the Lady Knights in rebounding at 8.6 rpg.

Admission for the game is $5.00 per person. North Platte Community College students, faculty and staff will be admitted with their college identification.
No season passes will be accepted.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the Internet at www.northplattepost.com. It will also be livestreamed at www.npccknights.com.