MCC men open with 3-2 mark

The McCook Community College men's basketball team entered the 2005-2006 season with expectations of building on last year's quarterfinal appearance in the Region IX tournament.

This year's team returns five sophomores with playing time experience from last year's squad.

Along with three student-athletes that redshirted last school year, 11 freshmen make up the rest of this years team with three of them red-shirting this season.

The MCC men opened the season on the road at Cheyenne, Wyo., to play Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles on Nov. 1.

MCC dropped its opener to LCCC 87-57. The game started with both teams red-hot from the field as the score was tied at 12 after only three minutes of play.

However, LCCC began to catch fire from the 3-point line as they hit six in the first half. LCCC used their hot shooting to jump out to a 51-26 lead at halftime.

McCook CC battled back but could never put any real pressure on the Golden Eagles as they coasted to a 30-point victory.

The Indians were led in scoring by Cambridge sophomore Marcus Vontz who tossed in 16 points.

Adam Vadenm another sophomore, chipped in 11 points. Sophomore Brett Thomas finished the night with 9 points.

Christian Lewis, freshmen, threw in 8 points for MCC.

Vontz and Lewis each snatched 5 rebounds to lead the Indians.

For the game the Indians shot 29 percent from the field and 2-of-20 from behind the 3-point arc.

McCook CC lost the rebounding margin by one and committed 12 turnovers on the night.

MCC hosted its Holiday Inn Classic on Nov. 4-5 at True Hall Gymnasium.

The Indians opened the Classic with a 76-39 victory over Doane JV. MCC used its full-court press and pressuring man-to-man defense to limit Doane JV to 22 percent shooting on the night.

MCC's focus on the night was to run and push the ball creating a lot of lay-ups which resulted in the Indians shooting 52 percent from the field.

Three players got into double figures on the night with Vontz leading the way with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Sophomore Chris Barrow and Vaden each contributed 10 points. Vaden also dished out 5 assists.

The Indians won the rebounding battle 53-28 while grabbing 20 offensive boards.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, MCC had to hold off a late rally from Hastings JV to win 57-47 and improve to 2-1 on the season.

Both teams shot 39 percent from the field for the game.

The Indians held a 10-point advantage at halftime and maintained that lead until about the four-minute mark.

The Broncos would not quit as they scored 9 points and held MCC scoreless in the following three minutes to close the gap to a single point with just over a minute to play.

Barrow and freshmen Trey Harris stepped up in the last minute with several steals that led to easy baskets that helped push the final margin back up to 10 points.

Vontz led the way with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Barrow finished with 11 points. Freshmen Kyle Wamsley produced 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Indians outrebounded the Broncos 46-27 with 21 being offensive.

MCC committed 20 turnovers, which led to 17 Bronco points.

On Nov. 9, MCC played host to perennial Region IX power Eastern Wyoming.

The Lancers used a strong finish to a hard fought first half to led 28-16 at the break.

The Indians only shot 20 percent from the field and made only one of 10 from the 3-point line in the first half.

MCC responded in the second half and tied the game up at 39.

The Lancers then controlled the last nine minutes of the game and held on to a 62-51 win over MCC.

Vontz led the Indians with 17 points connecting four times from behind the arc. Wamsley and Thomas snared seven and six rebounds respectively.

The Indians shot 28 percent from the field on the night while committing 11 turnovers.

MCC won the rebounding margin by three with 20 being offensive boards.

This loss dropped the Indians to 2-2 on the season.

The McCook CC men's basketball hosted its MCC Merchant's Classic on Nov. 11-12.

The Indians opened the classic with a win over the SW All-Stars 94-93.

The All-Stars made up of players that played college basketball at Otero JC, Metro Stateand York College.

The All-Stars led by two points until freshman Noel Cardinelli picked up a rebound that was tipped out and connected on a 3-pointer to put McCook CC up 94-93 with 24 seconds remaining.

The Indians forced a miss shot by the All-Stars and snared the rebound for the win. The Indians shot 50 percent for the game.

The Indians for the first time all year got their 3 pointers to fall as they hit 15 of 33 from downtown.

MCC won the rebounding column by 14 with 18 on the offensive side.

The Indians committed 21 turnovers while dishing out 16 assists.

Five MCC players got into double figures as Barrow led the team with 21 points. Cardinelli finished with 20 points with 18 coming via the 3-point shot. Vontz chipped in 14 points.

Thomas hustled his way to a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Harris contributed 10 points to his team.

Redshirt freshman R'Mon Jefferson grabbed 7 boards.

In the second game of the Merchant's Classic MCC downed the MCC All-Stars 98-67.

The All-Stars were comprised of former McCook CC players Jason O'Connor, Brad Wilson, Corbin Rogers, Jake Richardson, Mike Whiteand Mike Kuhlen.

The current Indians shot 50 percent from the field for the second night in a row.

MCC outrebounded their opponent 59-32 with 19 being offensive boards.

The Indians continued their hot shooting from the 3 point-line making 11 of 28 against the MCC All-Stars.

The Indians committed 15 turnovers while passing for a season high 22 assists.

MCC was led in scoring by Vontz as he hit 9 of 13 from the field and 6 of 9 from behind the arc for 24 points.

Lewis pumped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Wamsley dropped in 8 points and 9 rebounds.

After the Merchant's Classic and heading into the second half of November's schedule the Indians record is 4-2.

McCook CC will be in action over Thanksgiving break.

The team travels to Scottsbluff to play Western Nebraska, Garden City and Trinidad Thursday, Friday and Saturday.