Knights split season series with McCook

McCook, Neb. – Mariah Gardner and Jada Grigsby led the Knights in double digits, but McCook managed to hold off the final run to earn the 64-54 win inside the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center on Tuesday.

Gardner paced North Platte with 16 points while grabbing 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Grigsby chipped in 12 points and four steals, but McCook held the Knights to just 37.5 percent shooting from field goal range. North Platte slips to 6-18 on the year and 1-4 in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference action, while McCook improves to 11-14 on the year and 4-1 in NCCAC play.

North Platte got off to a strong start by jumping out to a 10-6 lead on a short jumper by Reece Halley. McCook rallied down the stretch to knot the game up on a pair of Taryn Lindsey free throws, before Vanessa Jurewicz put the home team out front to close out the opening quarter.

North Platte and McCook continued to battle it out on the hardwood as the margin never stretched over two points in the opening 5:26 of the second quarter. A pick and roll play run to perfection put the Knights back on top, before four straight points from Gardner extended the margin to 25-19 with 1:27 remaining. McCook countered with their own run to narrow the margin to 25-23 as teams headed into the halftime break.

The North Platte lead grew slightly in the opening minutes of the third quarter until a near six-minute offensive dry spell changed the momentum of the game. McCook seized the opportunity to go on an 11-0 run, as they built a 38-31 lead with 1:34 to play. Grigsby halted the momentum swing by connecting from long range, but McCook continued to carry the momentum into the final period.

The deficit grew to 51-37, before an 11-4 stretch helped the Knights cut the lead down to seven after back-to-back jumpers by Grigsby. McCook never relinquished their lead down the stretch despite North Platte trimming the deficit to six in the closing minute to earn the season split.

North Platte will hit the road for their final road game of the season against Central Community College on Friday. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. in Columbus.