Daniel Stinman
NPCC Athletics
North Platte, Neb. – Freshman Zaily Mazarin scored a career best 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 71-62 loss to Air Force Prep on Wednesday night.
Mazarin now has four double-doubles in ten career games for the black and gold. Nariah Golden, Nevaeh Golden and EmmaJo Locks each recorded seven points for North Platte.
A 10-1 run midway through the first quarter gave the Huskies a 18-9 lead. Sa'Naii May connected from long range to break up the run, before five straight points pushed the margin to 11 at the end of the opening ten minutes.
North Platte used an 8-2 run to open the second quarter to cut the margin to five on a jumper by Kateria Gooden. The Huskies responded with a 14-4 run over the final eight minutes to build their largest lead of the game at the halftime break, 41-24.
Mazarin led the second half resurgence by scoring nine of North Platte's 11 points to open the third quarter. The Huskies lead never trickled under ten in the frame, as they held a 55-40 lead headed into the final quarter.
A 12-2 run to open the final ten minutes cut the margin to five on a three by Nariah Golden. Air Force Prep retaliated with their own run over the next 2:38 to stretch their lead back into double digits. The Huskies continued to hold the momentum down the stretch to close out the win.
Knights (6-4) will begin a two-game road trip beginning with the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College on Friday. Tip is set for 6 p.m. in Torrington, Wyo.