TRAPPERS SURGE TO END SEASON

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Finding its stride late in the season the Northwest College men's basketball team has locked up a top three seed and remains in the hunt for the top spot in the region, after defeating Central Wyoming College 61-53 on Feb. 18 and Casper College 79-70 on Saturday to reach a three game winning streak.      

NORTHWEST 61, CENTRAL WYOMING 53
In the final home game of the regular season the Trappers (18-11 overall, 7-4 Region IX North) welcomed in the Rustlers (9-16 overall, 3-7 Region IX North).
The visitors started strong, holding a 9-2 lead five minutes in. The Trappers took the lead on an extended run, coming back from a 14-7 deficit and leading 22-14 after a Tate Monroe jumper with 10:52 left in the half.
Central responded by shutting down the Trappers' attack, only allowing three points over the final 10 minutes of the half, one in the final eight minutes, as the Rustlers surged into the lead 30-25 at the break.
Northwest tied the game just three minutes in on a Nayel Girard dunk, before taking the lead shortly after on an R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle free throw.
Back-and-forth the two teams went before the Rustlers opened up a 48-41 advantage with eight minutes left.
Northwest surged on a 15-5 stretch, taking the lead with a Travis Theran Archibald 3-pointer with 2:28 left.
"The biggest thing was we just had to be more aggressive attacking the lane. When we've done that, we've been a lot more efficient offensively, not just settling for perimeter shots," coach Andy Ward said. "I thought that was a big difference for us in the second half."
The Trappers held the visitors scoreless over the final 3:46 and pulled away late for the 61-53 win.
Mateo Trujillo led with 13 points, just ahead of Girard and Whittle with 11 each.
"R'Zha played really well. He's pretty effective when he gets the ball in the paint with good position," Ward said. "I thought he had a tremendous game."
Whittle added 11 rebounds to complete a double-double, Trujillo Girard and Trey Rinn had three assists each, Girard had four steals while Whittle and Braydon Bradshaw each had a block.     

NORTHWEST 79, CASPER COLLEGE 70
Heading on the road the Trappers took on the Thunderbirds (12-16 overall, 7-4 Region IX North), looking for an important season sweep atop the conference standings.
Northwest built a 10-4 lead over the first five minutes.
That lead stretched slightly to 20-13 after a Logan Woolstenhulme layup, which forced a Thunderbirds timeout with 9:32 left in the half.
Casper College surged over the next four minutes, going on a 16-6 run and taking the lead 29-26 with five minutes left in the half.
Northwest responded with a run of its own, reclaiming the lead into the locker room up 37-33.
The Trappers opened up a 44-36 lead, before a 9-0 run gave Casper the lead back five minutes in. A quick 7-0 run in just over a minute gave Northwest the lead 51-45 with 13:43 left in the half.
Runs continued dictating the result of the contest, as Casper College regained the lead 59-58 with eight minutes left.
Northwest created opportunities on the break late, and made it a 70-65 game with just 3:24 remaining.
"We got some big stops and converted on the other end," Ward said.
The Trappers got the lead to eight and held it around that mark, earning the 79-70 win to take the season series.
"They (Casper College) hadn't lost since they played us here. They had gone on quite a streak. They're talented, they're a good offensive team, tough to stop because they've got a lot of weapons," Ward said. "But I thought our guys played a really good basketball game … I thought we did a good job in transition … Hopefully we can build on that going into our last game of the regular season."
Whittle led with a 17 point, 12 rebound double double, Woolstenhulme added 14 points, Girard had 13 and Eli Patterson had 12.
Girard led with three assists, tied with Patterson with three steals and four Trappers recorded a block.     

TOP THREE SECURED
Northwest locked up a top three seed with its two wins, and has a shot at the top seed in the north if results fall the Trapper's way this week.
The Trappers took on Western Wyoming Community College (11-16 overall, 4-6 Region IX North) on Wednesday night in Rock Springs; that result was determined after the press deadline.
"They were just tougher than us (last game). They were more physical," Ward said. "When you play like we did in the first half, you dig yourself such a big hole, it's hard to sustain energy coming back. Hopefully we don't have to do that."
If Northwest won that game, it will take the No. 1 seed with a loss by Laramie County Community College in either of its final two contests this week against Central Wyoming or Eastern Wyoming.
"Obviously we don't have control over what happens with them. We just control what we control," Ward said.
The Trappers will remain the No. 2 or 3 seed should they fall below both the Thunderbirds and Golden Eagles, but cannot fall below the 3 seed.
Northwest remains ahead of Casper College should the teams tie in the standings due to the season sweep by the Trappers.      

NORTHWEST 61, CENTRAL WYOMING 53
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — Mateo Trujillo 13, Nayel Girard 11, R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 11, Braydon Bradshaw 8, Travis Theran Archibald 6, Eli Patterson 5, Tate Monroe 4, Trey Rinn 3
Rebounds — R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 11 (2), Nayel Girard 6, Trey Rinn 3, Eli Patterson 3 (3), Braydon Bradshaw 3 (3), Travis Theran Archibald 2, Tate Monroe 1, John Hendricks 1 (1)
Assists — Mateo Trujillo 3, Nayel Girard 3, Trey Rinn 3
Steals — Nayel Girard 4, Mateo Trujillo 3, Eli Patterson 2, Braydon Bradshaw 1
Blocks — Braydon Bradshaw 1, R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 1       

NORTHWEST 79, CASPER COLLEGE 70
Points — R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 17, Logan Woolstenhulme 14, Nayel Girard 13, Eli Patterson 12, Mateo Trujillo 6, Trey Rinn 6, Braydon Bradshaw 6, Tate Monroe 5
Rebounds — R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 12 (5), Trey Rinn 7 (2), Logan Woolstenhulme 6 (4), Mateo Trujillo 4 (1), Nayel Girard 4 (2), Eli Patterson 2 (1), Braydon Bradshaw 2, Tate Monroe 1
Assists — Nayel Girard 7, Logan Woolstenhulme 4, Tate Monroe 3, Mateo Trujillo 1, Eli Patterson 1, Braydon Bradshaw 1
Steals — Nayel Girard 3, Eli Patterson 3, Mateo Trujillo 2, Trey Rinn 2, R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 1
Blocks — Mateo Trujillo 1, Nayel Girard 1, Braydon Bradshaw 1, R'Zha Zha'Quire Whittle 1      

REGION IX NORTH STANDINGS
(as of Wednesday morning, Feb. 25)
Overall, Region IX North
1. Laramie County CC 14-11, 7-3
2. Northwest 18-11, 7-4
3. Casper College 12-16, 7-4
4. Gillette College 11-14, 4-6
5. Eastern Wyoming 7-21, 4-6
6. Western Wyoming CC 11-16, 4-6
7. Central Wyoming 9-16, 3-7