The North Central Missouri College Pirates, after a strong first half, saw a slump in their level of play leave them up by only two points (35-33) headed into the second half of play. In that second half at the Ketcham Community Center, the Pirates left no doubt as to whom the superior team would be on Wednesday night, whipping Southeast Community College 91-73 in the first game of 2019 for both squads, broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7.
Transfer center Cameron Lockett led NCMC with 22 points, with Jordan Reece scoring 19, and Soloman Thomas 17 points. The Pirates are now 8-6 on the season. Southeast (4-13) was paced by 18 points from Brodie Townsend, 13 from Darian McDonald, and 10 points each from Alex Dantzler and Kenan Gray.
The recent slide of the Lady Pirates continued into the new year, as too many turnovers, and not enough defensive stops doomed North Central in a 90-78 loss to the Lady Storm.
Southeast (6-9) had a potent one-two punch in the game, as Emily Zvolanek had 29 points, with Morgan Frauendorfer adding 27. For the Lady Pirates, freshman guard Megan Ernzen had 18 points, with Maddie Book adding 17, Karissa Baber 10, Hailey Burrows nine, and Dymeria Guillory eight points.
The Pirate teams were to begin Region 16 regular season play on Saturday afternoon, but the weekend snowstorm in the Show-Me State postponed the games scheduled for the Ketcham Center against St. Louis CC. Those games will be made up at a later date.
