BEATRICE – The SCC Storm used stifling defense and timely 3-point shooting to power the team to a 66-49 over the visiting Cloud County Thunderbirds on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Truman Center.

Southeast got off to a fast start, thanks to cold shooting from Cloud and Sophomore Synder CeneCharles and redshirt freshman Brandon Spencer’s shooting from beyond the arc.

CeneCharles hit a guarded three-point basket as time expired to make it 11-3 en route to an 18-3 opening run.

The Thunderbirds were held to just 17 percent shooting in the first half and 27 percent for the game

Head Coach Joel Wooton said his team did a good job of guarding and put the clamps down on Cloud’s point guard, Aahmahne Santos, in the game.

“We saw on film he has a tendency drive to his left, even though he is right handed,” Wooton stated. “We forced him back to his right, and he was not nearly as effective.”

The win over Cloud is the third time SCC has avenged an earlier loss on the road. The Storm got return homes wins over Brown Mackie (97-95) and Highland (74-51) as well.

“We are just playing better defense than we were a month ago,“ the coach added.

Spencer led SCC with 16 points, including 4-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Cenecharles added 14 to go along with eight rebounds. The Storm improved to 7-6 with the win.

The match-up with Little Priest Tribal College on Dec. 12 was cancelled, so the team will be off until after Christmas break.