Buffaloes hand Thunderbirds first loss, 75-66

Cloud County was able to erase a double digit deficit in the first half, but couldn't do so again the second.
Falling behind Sunrise Christian Academy 15-2 in the first four minutes of the game, the Cloud County Thunderbirds put together a 19-4 surge to go on top 21-19.
Sunrise Christian would steadily build a lead back to 11 points, 42-31, early in the second half.
Cloud County would be able to get no closer than five points over the final 18 minutes in suffering its first loss of the season, 75-66, Wednesday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
“I need to take a lot of blame for the loss tonight as it was our first weekday game of the year where our players were in class during the day and I didn't get them fully prepared for what to expect against a very talented Sunrise Christian team,” Cloud County coach Jordan Altman said.
With Cloud County (3-1) missing on its first seven field goal attempts, Sunrise Christian bolted to a quick 9-0 lead in the game, and was up 15-2 when Mykell Robinson completed a three-point play with 16:41 remaining in the first half.
A jumper by Ty Duin and five straight points from Jay Lewis pulled Cloud County to within six points, 15-9.
Baskets by Tyrin Lawrence and Daniel Ferrer gave the Buffaloes a 19-9 advantage.
The T-Birds then scored 12 unanswered points in a span of 3:20 to grab its first lead, 21-19, when DJ Sims scored on a drive.
Sims led Cloud County with 16 points.
Lawrence connected on a three to start a 7-0 spurt by Sunrise Academy that made it a 26-21 game.
Sims made a layup and Iyen Enaruna went two of four from the free throw line to give the T-Birds the lead back at 29-28.
The Buffaloes outscored Cloud County 10-2 over the final 2:18 of the first half, and led 38-31.
Blaise Keita and Collin Moore each went two of two from the free throw line in the first 1:31 of the second half, and Sunrise Christian once again led by double figures, 42-31.
Cloud County would close the gap to five points, 48-43, on a basket by Denzel Ndongosi with 14:55 to play.
Scoring seven straight points, the Buffaloes led 55-43.
Enaruna scored inside and Sims tossed in four straight points to pull the T-Birds within six points, 55-49.
Six points by Lawrence sparked a 10-2 Sunrise Academy run, and it was a 65-51 game.
Cloud County, trailing 68-55, got a three-point play by Chad Vincent-Simon and two free throws each by Michael Ozomah and Sims to climb back within six points, 68-2, with 2:40 to play.
Noah Butler scored for the Buffaloes, but Dyelan Reed made two free throws for Cloud County and it was 70-64 with 1:47 on the clock.
The Buffaloes ran the shot clock down, and Jeremiah Oden knocked down a three-point shot to put the game out of reach at 72-64.
“I'm actually fairly proud and impressed in how engaged we stayed tonight, despite how poorly we shot the ball,” Altman said, “Up until the last 45 seconds our guys continued to compete and put forth a full effort, despite one of the worst shooting performances I've had as a head coach.”
Cloud County shot 36 percent (25 of 69) from the field, but made just 2 of 23 three-point attempts for 8.7 percent.
Lewis joined Sims in double figures with 14 points.
Vincent-Simon scored nine points.
Enaruna finished with seven points and 12 rebounds.
Reed grabbed eight rebounds.
Lawrence led Sunrise Christian with 16 points.
Mykell Robinson scored 12 points for the Buffaloes and TJ Fritz added 10 points.
Cloud County will host North Platte Community College at 4 p.m. Saturday.