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T-Birds rally for win

Getting a lift from unexpected sources, the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds rallied from 11 points down in the second quarter to defeat Southeast (Neb.) Community College 70-58 Tuesday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
With Cloud County trailing Southeast 26-15 in the second quarter, coach Brett Erkenbrack was searching for answers and inserted Haven Hamilton, Samag McGhee and Jasmina Jones into the game.
The reserves helped spark a 9-2 run that closed the gap to 28-24 at halftime.
Cloud County then used a dominant third quarter to go up 47-34, and held off the Storm in the final period to post a second straight win and improve to 3-2 on the season.
“We needed a win, and it certainly wasn't pretty, but we're happy with the end result,” Erkenbrack said, “I thought we had some good performances from some different people, including Haven Hamilton who has just one practice with us, but may have been the difference in the game.”
Hamilton, a 5-11 sophomore, just joined the team following the completion of volleyball season. She hit four of six field goal attempts in scoring nine points and also had three steals.
McGhee, a 6-0 sophomore, is a new addition to the team also. She finished with three points, six rebounds and two steals and was disruptive on the defensive end for Cloud County.
Jones, a 5-10 sophomore, came off the bench to knock down a three-point shot to get the T-Birds within four points at halftime.
Cloud County jumped out to an 8-2 lead on Southeast.
The Storm (1-3) went on a 15-3 run to go up 17-11.
A jumper by Isabella Vazquez left Cloud County trailing 17-13 heading into the second period.
Southeast used a 9-2 spurt to open the second quarter to extend its lead to 26-15 when Courtney Hanson connected on a jumper with 6:01 remaining.
The Storm would manage just two more points before halftime.
Baskets by Hamilton, Kelsie Kelly and LaKya Leslie got Cloud County within five points, 26-21.
Ally Stewart scored to put Southeast on top 28-21.
Jones knocked down the three to make it 28-24.
Cloud County then locked down on defense in the third quarter.
The T-Birds came up with 13 steals in the period, forced 15 Southeast turnovers and limited the Storm to just one of nine shooting from the field.
“We have to rely on our defense, as we will get better offensively, but defense is our strength right now,” Erkenbrack said, “I thought we were passive for a better portion of the second quarter, but the third quarter we were more aggressive and got some energy going and that was a big key.”
Cloud County scored the first six points of the second half to go back on top, 30-28.
Two free throws by Southeast's Sydney Callaway tied the game at 30-30 with 5:26 to play in the third quarter.
The Storm would then go more than three minutes without scoring.
A three-point basket by Alyssa Castilleja started a 12-0 Cloud County spurt that made it a 42-30 game.
Castilleja was three of six from three-point range and four of four from the free throw line in scoring 15 points.
“Alyssa Castilleja hit some big shots and some big free throws late,” Erkenbrack said.
Southeast did not connect from the field until a jumper by Monique Gooden made it 44-33 with 1:35 remaining in the third period.
Cloud County took a 47-34 advantage into the final 10 minutes of play, and upped that to 50-34 on a three by Castilleja.
Southeast would go on a 12-2 run to pull within six points when Cassidy Weinandt scored with 4:24 to play in the game.
Baskets by Hamilton and Lydia Ostenson gave Cloud County a 56-46 lead with 3:50 remaining.
The Storm would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
“There's some real positives from tonight, and I like the fact that we have a better chance of improving than we did yesterday as we continue to practice, which is what I told the girls in the locker room,” Erkenbrack said.
Ostenson matched Castilleja with 15 points in the game.
Jacy Dalinghaus scored 11 points and had five steals for the T-Birds.
Stewart led Southeast with 15 points.
Cloud County travels to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to play Iowa Western Community College on Saturday.

 

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Concordia, KS 66901