NWC continues Region IX slide

Posted 3/25/21

Wins have been hard to come by in recent weeks for the Northwest College men’s basketball team.  

The Trappers picked up losses on the road to Western Wyoming and Laramie County …

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NWC continues Region IX slide

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Wins have been hard to come by in recent weeks for the Northwest College men’s basketball team. 

The Trappers picked up losses on the road to Western Wyoming and Laramie County community colleges on Friday and Sunday. NWC has lost seven of its last eight contests, sitting 7-11 overall and 1-7 in Region IX play. 

Early in the game against the Mustangs, the Trappers couldn’t find an offensive groove. Inconsistency from midrange on NWC’s end allowed WWCC to lead 38-20 at halftime.

“We didn’t make shots,” head coach Jay Collins said. “We have to make perimeter shots to be successful, and we didn’t do that in the first half.”

But after the break, the Trappers’ production increased. They made a run in the middle of the second half to cut the deficit to single digits, shooting well above 40% in the period. 

The margin got as small as seven points and could have narrowed even further if not for missed free throws and a missed wide-open three, according to Collins. Western Wyoming put the game away, 70-63.

While the comeback attempt came up short, Hayden Peterson played a major role in the Trappers’ late-game run. He scored 22 points — leading the team — on 8-of-13 shooting. 

“Hayden [Peterson]’s an absolute stud,” Collins said. “We always ask him to guard our opponent’s best perimeter player, and he does it. He’s underrated with what he gives our program.”

In the second game, dry offense proved costly.

A slow start from the field allowed LCCC to take a double-digit lead early, going to the locker room up 41-27. The Golden Eagles eventually won 71-57, maintaining a significant lead until the final buzzer.

As a team, NWC shot 29.7% from the field, while posting a 19.4% clip from deep. Only three Trappers finished in double figures, as Gabriel Gutierrez’s 13 points were a team high. 

In both losses, the Trappers played with just seven men, due to injuries to Jaren Fritz and Jahquel Goss. Collins said he was impressed with the performances from NWC’s bench players, Jacob Schilder and Colton Thorness. 

With just seven players in the rotation, Collins said fatigue likely contributed to the dismal offensive weekend, particularly against LCCC.

“The shots we were missing were wide open,” the coach said. “Maybe we were just worn down. We got the shots we wanted; they just weren’t falling.”

Before the regular season concludes, NWC will play two more games: The Trappers faced Eastern Wyoming Wednesday before traveling to Casper Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest. 

Though NWC has just one conference win under its belt, Collins isn’t focused on that. Instead, the coach’s goal is for the team to continue improving ahead of April 3 — the start of the Region IX tournament. 

“Every game matters, but that’s our mantra,” Collins said. “All games right now are to prepare us for then and beyond. Our guys are bought into that.”

     

Western Wyoming 70, Northwest 63

Points — Hayden Peterson 22, Jerome Mabry 17, Seyi Oyeku 12, Andre Loigu 5, Jacob Schilder 5, Gabriel Gutierrez 2;

Rebounds — Mabry 6, Peterson 5, Oyeku 5, Gutierrez 3, Colton Thorness 2;

Steals — Gutierrez 4

     

Laramie County 71, Northwest 57

Points — Gutierrez 13, Mabry 12, Oyeku 11, Peterson 8, Schilder 7, Loigu 5, Thorness 1;

Rebounds — Gutierrez 10, Oyeku 7, Peterson 4, Loigu 3, Mabry 2, Schilder 1, Thorness 1;

Assists — Gutierrez 6

Northwest College, Trapper Basketball

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