Knights set school record with win over Southeast

North Platte, Neb. – Janay Brauer led all North Platte scorers with 20 points, as the Knights claimed the 63-57 win against Region IX foe Southeast Community College on Saturday afternoon.

"Good win today on our home floor," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "There are some things we need to shore up, but I am proud of our resiliency."

North Platte improved to 19-8 and 4-0 against DII Region IX opponents, which seals the top spot in the Region IX postseason tournament. Southeast falls to 11-13 overall and 0-2 in Region IX play. The win also marks a new single season record for wins, besting the previous mark set by the 2010-2011 squad.

The Knights controlled the opening ten minutes, jumping out to a 25-4 lead. Kayla Pope led the charge scoring eight of the opening fifteen points. Southeast got their first basket of the quarter at the 5:16 mark, before some strong defense and successful offense helped the Knights close the quarter with the twenty-one point advantage.

Storm surged in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to fourteen with 6:01 to play. Inside the final minutes of the quarter, Fumnanya Ijeh connected on a baseline floater to push the lead to sixteen. An offensive putback by Tahmeya King and a three by Brauer helped extend the lead back to twenty-one at the break, 40-19.

The North Platte offense went cold as Southeast cut the deficit to six by the end of the third quarter, 42-36. Diamond Moore-Heath scored the Knights lone field goal of the quarter on an off-balance jumper in the lane.  

The Storm trimmed the deficit to four with the opening bucket of the fourth quarter, before Brauer connected on back-to-back three pointers to extend the lead to back to ten. Southeast narrowed the deficit to six after a runner by Josiee Sobotka, as the margin stayed under ten for the next four minutes.

North Platte never relinquished their lead down the stretch, as they held off one final run by the Storm to remain unbeaten at home this season.

"I am proud to be part of this program that cemented itself in history," said Thurman. "It is a culmination of the hard work and buy-in from these student-athletes this year."

Knights continue their four game homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 15 against McCook Community College at 5 p.m. All North Platte fans are encouraged to wear gold to gold out the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.