Knights fall in final road trip of 2022

Norfolk, Neb. – For the second time in nine days North Platte took on the Hawks of Northeast Community College. A strong second quarter helped lift the Hawks to a 63-57 win on their home floor on Monday evening.

Jada Grigsby tallied 14 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to lead the Knights, while Samantha Riggles accounted for 12 points and 10 rebounds to land her first double-double of her collegiate career. Reece Halley was the only other Knights player in double-digits totaling 12 points, while going 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

The opening ten minutes featured back and forth basketball as the margin stayed within four points. Northeast jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage, before the Knights responded to take their first lead of the game on a layup by Noel Warrior. Knights and Hawks continued to battle over the final 5:32 of the quarter, but Northeast managed to take a tightly contested 15-14 lead into the second quarter.

Northeast held the Knights without a field goal for the opening 3:52 of the second quarter, as the margin grew to 21-14. North Platte outscored the Hawks over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to three after a pair of free throws by Halley. The Hawks recaptured the momentum and managed to extend their lead to 34-26 at the halftime break.

An 8-2 run to open the third quarter pulled the Knights back within two after a pair of free throws by Halley. Northeast outscored the Knights 14-6 over the next 5:12, as the margin increased to ten. A short burst spearheaded by Riggles helped pull North Platte back within seven as teams headed into the final quarter.

North Platte trimmed the margin to four multiple times in the final quarter, but the Hawks continued to answer down the stretch to secure the win.

Knights (2-8) will close out the opening half of the season with four straight home games beginning with Eastern Wyoming College on Friday. Tip is set for 5 p.m. inside the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. North Platte defeated the Lancers 63-60 to earn their first win of the season back on Nov. 4.