Story by Daniel Stinman Area Director of Marketing and Public Information
North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College men's basketball team suffered its sixth loss of the season at the hands of Southeast Community College on Saturday afternoon, 92-81.
Saturday's game saw three ties and five lead changes as the Knights and Storm battled back-and-forth in the opening five minutes of the first half. Tied 10-10, a Storm 6-0 run gave the road team the 16-10 advantage and a little momentum with 12:03 to play in the first half. The Knights hit the reset button and made a charge to regain the lead, as a Jevarrick Butler connected on a corner three to give the lead back to the Knights, 17-16.
Knights and Storm continued to trade baskets and the lead for the next ten minutes, before a late run by the Knights gave them the lead. Trailing 35-36, German Plotnikov connected on a pair of free throws which provided a spark for the Knights and propelled them to outscore the Storm 10-5 for the advantage at the break, 45-41.
In the second half, the Storm quickly made a charge at the deficit in the opening minutes. Leading 53-52 the Knights momentum began to switch as the Storm went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead with 13:07 to play.
The Storm quickly pushed their lead to double digits over the next five minutes, leading the Knights 70-60 with 8:13 to play. The Southeast lead climbed to fifteen inside two minutes before Steven Garcia hit two three-point shots on back-to-back offensive possessions.
The visiting Storm added one final bucket in the closing seconds to take the victory over the Knights, 92-81.
Plotnikov led the Knights in scoring totaling 22 points in thirty-six minutes of action. Trevon Dennis led the Knights on the glass with seven rebounds to go along with his 14 points.
The Knights (2-6, 1-1 NCCAC) will hit the road next weekend to take on Trinidad State Junior College on Friday, February 26. Tip is set for 8:00 p.m. at the Scott Gym in Trinidad, Colo.