Your future, our focus
Two weeks of rest and preparation have set the stage for a key Region IX opening tilt for the Northwest College men’s basketball team, as the Trappers are set to host Casper College at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
It will have been just under two weeks since the last game for Northwest (13-7), coming off a 69-63 victory over Bismarck State in North Dakota.
It has also been a month since the Trappers have played a game at home since their final game before winter break on Dec. 16.
Casper College comes into Powell on a five-game winning streak, winning nine of their last 10 and boasting a 15-4 record.
“They are playing well,” coach Andy Ward said. “They have really balanced scoring.”
Sophomore guard Kenard Richardson is the leading scorer for the Thunderbirds, scoring 20 points per game. In addition to Richardson the Thunderbirds have three other players averaging more than 10 points per game with one more averaging 9.8 points per game.
Statistically both teams are similar heading into the contest, but Casper College averages slightly less turnovers — something Ward knows the Trappers will have to control in order to open region play with a victory.
“They are doing a better job of taking care of the ball by a couple turnovers a game,” Ward said. “We need to make sure we take care of it and turn them over where we can.”
Northwest has been led in scoring by Davion McAdam, a sophomore transfer from Casper College who is averaging 19.8 points per game on 47% shooting.
The Trappers also feature Juan Pablo Camargo Tellez (13.1) and Yannice Nlend (11.2) in double figure scoring average, with David Ayala just below the double digit average.
Another key that Northwest plans to hone in on is rebounding, a statistic that has been a focus of the team since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
“So many games around the country are determined by one possession,” Ward said. “Take care of the ball, rebound the ball. We have to do a good job of keeping them off the glass and giving them second opportunities.”
Ward knows the Trappers will need to execute offensively, heading into a matchup against a full court press alongside a zone defense that is holding opponents to 42% shooting.
He said Casper College’s press has been successful in helping the Thunderbirds pull away in games this season, and knows that Northwest will have to handle it in order to create quality opportunities to score.
“We have been working on our game plan and will continue all week,” Ward said. “We are going to come out and try to execute it.”
After the game against Casper College the Trappers will head on the road for their second Region IX North contest, heading to Torrington on Wednesday to take on Eastern Wyoming College (4-15).
“Eastern is a dangerous team,” Ward said.
Northwest will return home next weekend on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. to take on Western Wyoming (13-6).