Your future, our focus
The Northwest College men shook off the holiday rust, barely, allowing the Trappers to win their final non-conference game of the season, 70-67 over Dawson Community College on Saturday.
The game was close throughout, but NWC managed a pair of runs that allowed them to fend off a scrappy Dawson squad. The decisive run came midway through the second half when the Trappers outscored Dawson 15-4.
NWC reserve Sukhjot Bain sparked NWC with a pair of 3-pointers to get the Trappers rolling.
“I was pretty wide open and confident,” Bain said.
Bain’s second trey came after Jonathan Koud came up with a steal, then gathered in a loose ball while sliding across the key on his back.
Still, Bain passed on a chance to make it three threes in a row, despite the encouragement of his teammates on the bench. He passed off to another Trapper instead.
“I was trying to get everybody involved,” Bain said. “Maybe I should have shot it.”
It didn’t matter. NWC kept draining 3 pointers. Loud added another off a handoff assist from guard Blake Hinze, and Luc Lombardy hit another. Twice in the final 10 minutes NWC stretched its advantage to a seemingly comfortable 13 points.
But just like the game in Glendale, Mont., on Dec. 6 – an 85-80 Trapper win – Dawson fought back.
A 3-pointer by Dawson’s Ryan Strong cut NWC’s lead to 67-58 with just 1:04 left. That was the start of a flurry of Dawson points as the visitors outscored the Trappers 12-3 in the game’s final moments.
NWC’s only points in the final minute came at the line, where Loud went 3-4.
“This happened there too,” Bain said. “We took our foot off the pedal.”
Bain led NWC with 17 points and seven rebounds. Hinze added 11 and Levi Londole had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
NWC coach Brian Erickson was happy to get the win after 16 days off for Christmas break, even if it wasn’t a work of art.
“I told them to be sharp,” Erickson said. “I don’t think we were that sharp.”
But coach said the Trappers will have to improve for their conference opener (Wednesday night) in Casper. Erickson planned a film session for the team the following day so the Trappers could identify the things they’ll need to work on for Casper.
“We’ve got a lot to learn, a lot to improve,” Erickson said.