The SCC Lady Storm basketball team is headed to North Platte Community College to take on the Lady Knights for the Region IX championship after stopping Central Community College, 59-54, Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Truman Center.
The game went back and forth as there were 11 lead changes and eight ties. SCC shot just 27 percent in the first half, but managed to go into halftime tied with Central 26-26.
SCC trailed 47-41 with 9 minutes left when SCC went on a 13-0 run.
Destiny Whitehead hit 3 consecutive threes to put SCC up 50-47. A couple of Hannah Tatum buckets off Central misses would make it 54-47 with 6:09 left.
Central would battle back to make it 54-52 with four minutes to go before a free throw and bucket by Callie Percival allowed SCC to pull away for good.
Head Coach Vicki Wooton credited the game’s atmosphere and a cheering section filled with SCC Storm players in aiding the win.
“The men’s team was really supportive…usually (during a double header) they are focused on their own game, but today they really helped out,” Wooton explained. “The players would get excited after a good play and fed off the energy in the gym.”
Wooton said SCC was “fortunate” to get the win after shooting just 31 percent from the free throw line.
“I told the players to hold on the ball, run clock, and try not to get fouled,” Wooton said.
SCC defenders forced Central into 26 turnovers. Wooton said Olivia Moore was instrumental in stopping the Lady Raiders.
“Olivia is a great defensive player,” Wooton commented. “She reads players well, and she is usually in the right place at the right time.”
Moore pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with a steal.
Destiny Whitehead led the Lady Storm with 15 points, and Hannah Tatum added 11.
Caitlin Fehringer notched a double-double for Central, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards.
Next up is the Region IX championship game, Monday, March 4th at North Platte. It will be the third time the two teams have met.
“Both teams know what the other team is capable of,” Wooton said. “We are going to have to play a lot better than we did today.”