Three North Platte Community College basketball players were awarded Superior Academic Achievement for the 2014-2015 school year.  The awards were announced by the National Junior College Athletic Association.  The players are Marco Pascolo, Luke Pittle and Clara Vinton.

Superior Academic Achievement is awarded to athletes by the NJCAA who have a cumulative grade point average between 3.8 and 3.99.

Pascolo from Udine, Italy received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a cumulative grade point average of 3.96..  He will continue his education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and major in electrical engineering.  Pascolo averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Knights this past season.

Pittle from Brisbane, Australia received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a cumulative grade average of 3.98.  Pittle majored in math and science..  Pittle played sparingly for the Knights and averaged 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds this past season in 17 games.

Vinton from Mullen, Nebraska transferred from Eastern Wyoming College and played only one season for the Lady Knights.  Vinton received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a 3.93 grade point average.  Vinton will be attending University of Nebraska at Kearney to continue her education. Vinton was injured the first part of the season playing in 18 games.  She averaged 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Lady Knights.

Since the 2005 -2006 school year, North Platte Community College has produced 34 Academic All- American athletes.

North Platte – Two North Platte Community College Knights Softball players were named to the All-Nebraska Junior College Softball team, while four others were named honorable mention.  The team was compiled by the Omaha World-Herald, and is comprised of both National Junior College Athletic Association Division I and Division II colleges in the state of Nebraska.

The two players named to the team from North Platte are catcher Sara Villalobos and outfielder Brittney Odum.  Jessica Jarvis, Shannon Lieber, Baileigh Oleson and Sara Runia were named honorable mention.

Villalobos, a freshman catcher from Skiatook, Okla. finished the season with a .424 batting average, seven home runs, nine doubles and 32 runs batted in.  Villalobos was named the Region IX Division II Freshman of the Year.  Villalobos was also named to the All-Region IX Division II team and the All-Region IX Division II tournament team this past season.

Continue reading “NPCC Softball Lands Six Players on All-Nebraska Juco Softball Team”

The NJCAA Executive Committee and the basketball committee chairs approved for the NJCAA to follow the recent NCAA Rule changes for men’s and women’s basketball for the 2015-16 season with the exception of the change in the men’s defensive arc. The change in the arc will be adopted in the NJCAA for the 2016-17 basketball season.

Here’s a look at the new rules that will be in place for the upcoming season in the NJCAA.

Men’s Basketball Rule Changes

The key areas officials will focus on in the upcoming season are:

• Perimeter defense, particularly on the dribbler and strictly enforcing directives established  before the 2013-14 season.
• Physicality in post play.
• Screening, particularly moving screens and requiring the screener to be stationary.
• Block/charge plays.
• Allowing greater freedom of movement for players without the ball.

Pace of play

Reducing the shot clock to 30 seconds from 35 seconds.

Teams will also have one fewer team timeout (only three can carryover instead of four) in the second half. Officials will focus more on resuming play quickly after a timeout and will issue a delay-of-game warning when a team does not comply and a one-shot technical foul on subsequent violations.

Removing the ability for a coach to call timeout when the ball is live.

Allowing a total of only 10 seconds to advance the ball to the front court (with a few exceptions).

Reducing the amount of time allotted to replace a disqualified player from 20 to 15 seconds.

Restricted-area arc (will be adopted for the 2016-17 season)

Expansion of the restricted-area arc from 3 feet to 4 feet.

Faking fouls

A rule that would allow officials to penalize players who fake fouls. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee felt that players trying  to draw fouls by deception  is a growing issue.

Other changes

Allowing officials to use the monitor to review a potential shot clock violation on made field goals throughout the entire game.

Making Class B technical fouls (hanging on the rim and delaying the resumption of play, for example) one-shot technical fouls. Previously, two shots were granted for these types of technical fouls.

Eliminating the five-second closely guarded rule while dribbling the ball.

Removing the prohibition on dunking in pregame warmups and at halftime.

 

Women’s Basketball Rule Changes

Games will be played in four 10-minute quarters next season, instead of the 20-minute halves.

Teams will now reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul in each quarter. Previously, teams reached a one-and-one bonus on the seventh team foul of each half and reached the double bonus (two shots) on the 10th team foul.

In the four-quarter format, team fouls reset to zero at the start of each quarter. However, if a team reaches the bonus in the fourth quarter, that team would remain in the bonus during any additional overtime periods.

Advancing the ball

A rule that allows teams to advance the ball to the front-court following a timeout immediately after a made basket in the last 59.9 seconds of the fourth quarter and any overtime periods.

Teams also will be allowed to advance the ball to the frontcourt after securing the ball from a rebound or a change of possession. In these scenarios, the ball would be inbounded at the 28-foot mark on the side of the court where the scorer’s table is located.

10-second backcourt exceptions

NCAA women’s basketball implemented the 10-second backcourt rule during the 2013-14 season.

For the upcoming season, a team will not receive a new 10-second backcourt count when a throw-in results from the following:

• The ball is deflected out of bounds by the defense.
• There is a held ball and the possession arrow favors the offensive team.
• A technical foul is called on the offensive team while the ball is in its backcourt.

Post defense

A new rule that allows defenders to place a forearm or an open hand with a bend in the elbow on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is to the basket.

The North Platte Community College Knights Basketball team announced the signing of Victor Lewis from Arlington, Texas.

Lewis, a 6’ 3” guard played for Jeff Plemons at James Martin High School in Arlington.

Plemons said, “Victor is super competitive and hates to lose.  He will fight tooth and nail to get the win. He is a strong rebounder and good at getting to the rim.”

Lewis was a two-year starter for the James Martin Warriors and an All-District first team player. He was the second leading scorer on the team and leading rebounder for the Warriors as a guard.

The Warriors, during Lewis’s junior season were the district champions.

Lewis averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.  He shot 53 percent from the floor, 56 percent from behind the three-point line and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Lewis is the sixth recruit for the Knights upcoming season and the third from the state of Texas.

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announced the signing of Elizabeth Gonzalez of Avron, Colorado.

Gonzalez, a 5’ 8” forward played at Battle Mountain High School in Edwards, Colorado.

Lady Knights Head Coach Dick Thurin said, “Elizabeth is a good overall player.”

Gonzalez played on the varsity team for three years averaging 10.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.0 block and 1.3 steals per game.

Gonzalez, during her senior season played in 17 games, averaged 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.  She shot 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line.

Gonzalez is the seventh recruit for the Lady Knights for the 2015 – 2016 season.

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights Volleyball team announces the signing of Anna Crane from Maxwell, NE.

Crane, a 5’ 6” outside hitter played for the Maxwell High School Lady Wildcats for three seasons, graduating in 2014.  During her career at Maxwell, Crane played in 216 sets, had 385 kills, 54 service aces, 15 blocks and 669 digs.

Crane said that she chose North Platte because it is close to home and be able to play volleyball.

Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa Hopping said.  I remember watching her in high school and she was a very athletic player. And we are adding depth to our outside by adding her to the team. I am excited to see how she does working out over the summer with her trainer and her competitive spirit that she brings.”

Crane’s high school coach Lori Mau said, “She was a great player in high school.  She was one that was very versatile. She could do a lot of things.  She had control in back row. She very athletic, quick to the ball and works hard.  She was a hitter in high school, but we relied on her defense, so that was a bigger part on our team than the hitting part of it.”

Crane was a teammate of Lady Knight recruit Tracy Blake.

Mau said “Tracy and Anna worked together a lot.  They played right next to each other.”

Anna is the daughter of Allen and Tara Crane of North Platte.  Her goal is to go to medical school.

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announce the signing of Mai’Zhrae Zeno from Beaumont, Texas.

Zeno, a 5’ 7” forward played high school basketball for the West Brook High School Lady Bruins and led the Lady Bruins in scoring with 14.9 points per game and 10 rebounds this past season.

Lady Bruin Head Coach said, “Mai’Zhrae is a very athletic and versatile player.  She is a defensive machine and versatile.  She can play the post and shoot from the perimeter.

During her junior season, Zeno was a teammate of current Lady Knight player Djimonii Jackson.  Zeno averaged 7.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.4 blocks per game during her junior year.

In her senior season, Zeno was a First team All-21-6A District player, a Super Gold player and was selected to play in two all- star games.

Zeno was also a co-captain of the Lady Bruin volleyball team.

Lady Knight Head Coach Richard Thurin, said “Zeno is quick and a very good rebounder.

Janelle Higgins, NPCC softball coach, was presented with the Region IX Division II Coach of the Year Award during the MPCC Board of Governors meeting Wednesday night.

Former NPCC Head Volleyball Coach Sally Thalken was presented with a Women of Achievement Award in the category of Education during the Wednesday night MPCC Board of Governors meeting. The award was co-sponsored by the North Platte Telegraph and NebraskaLand National Bank.

Thalken was also presented with the Junior College Athletic Association’s Service Award. The award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the NJCAA on a national level for an extended period of time.

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announces the signing of Aljahnay Duncan of Sherwood, Ark.

Duncan, a 5’7” forward, played for the Sylvan Hills High School Lady Bears. Duncan averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game.

Lady Knights head coach Richard Thurin said, “Duncan drives to the basket very well and has good quickness.”

At Sylvan Hills, Duncan also ran track, competing in the 100 and 200 meters, the 100 meter hurdles, high jump and triple jump as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams.

Duncan is the fifth player signed in the 2015 – 2016 Lady Knights recruiting class.  The others include Mickenzie Brennan of Alliance, Linsey Frost of Knoxville, Ark., Suhmer Mitchell of Big Sandy, Texas and Thomesha Wilson of Omaha.

The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team bolsters their front court by the signing of two players, David Ramon-Prada and Jon Reese Woodson for the upcoming 2015 – 2016 season.

Ramon-Prada, originally from Madrid, Spain, is a 6’ 8” forward.  He will come to the Knights as a transfer from the University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC), where he redshirted.

Ramon-Prada is regarded as a very good long-range shooter.  In the 2013 Spain National U18 Championship League, Ramon-Prada shot 48 percent from behind the arc.  In the U16 Madrid Regional Championship, Ramon-Prada led his team to the tournament title and won most valuable player honors with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

As a student, Ramon-Prada attended Virgen de Atocha High School and was awarded an honors diploma from the Madrid Regional Government, averaging 9.7 on a 10.0 scale.  At UIC , he majored in engineering.

Woodson, a 6’7” power forward, was a four-year starter at Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. As a senior, Woodson averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks per game.  He was named to the First Team All-District and Second Team All-South Texas.

Woodson was in the Top 20 percent of his graduating class with a 3.32 grade point average.  He was a First Team All-Academic.

These two signings brings the Knights 2015 – 2016 recruiting class to five.  Earlier they signed Jordan Mills from Alliance, Diontae Champion from Arlington, Texas and Tim Wagner from Galesville, Wis.