TRAPPERS DOMINATE REGION IX OPENERS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Getting back on the court after nearly a month didn't slow down the Northwest College women's basketball team, as the Trappers rolled to two victories to start Region IX North action, defeating Laramie County Community College 74-46 on Thursday and Eastern Wyoming College 88-68 on Saturday.      

NORTHWEST 74, LCCC 46
Starting out, the Trappers (14-6 overall, 2-0 Region IX North) welcomed in the Golden Eagles (8-10 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) to Powell.
Despite not playing for nearly a month, the Trappers showed no signs of rust and jumped out to an 8-2 lead inside the first two minutes.
LCCC made a run and cut the lead down to a single possession at 11-8, but never got closer from that point forward. Northwest extended the lead to double-digits at 20-10 just before the end of the first quarter on a McKinlee Covolo jumper.
The Golden Eagles cut the lead down to 27-21 with 4:26 remaining in the second, before a 15-2 run ended the half capped off by a Madison Kaufman 3-pointer to make it 42-23 at the break.
Northwest extended the lead past 20 at 46-25 on an Emma Pique jumper inside the first minute of the third quarter, as the Trappers started running away from the visitors.
"I thought the kids sold out defensively, LCCC is a good team. To hold them in check offensively doesn't happen unless you have a great effort. Credit to the kids for just coming out and playing as hard as they did," coach Cody Helenbolt said.
The Trappers led 57-32 after the third quarter, as the lead stretched to as many as 40 at 72-32 just past the midway point of the fourth as Northwest finished with the 74-46 win.
"I was very happy with that game. I was pretty nervous about that game because we had such a long time off, and a lot of teams played games before we did," Helenbolt said. "I kind of honestly took it easy on them, because we came back from break still banged up a little bit, limping around. So I was very hesitant to push them as much as I do sometimes coming off of a long break like that, and I think it kind of paid off. It was kind of a gamble, but I was really happy with how we played."
Covolo led with 23 points and added nine rebounds, shooting 11-12 from the field in her first game back since Dec. 6.Pique had 17 points as the other Trapper in double figures.
Addison Hickey led the Trappers with 11 rebounds, and tied for the team lead with Pique and Isabella Williams with three assists each. Williams led with five steals.   

NORTHWEST 88, EASTERN WYOMING 68
The Trappers had a more difficult time early on Saturday against the visiting Lancers (10-8 overall, 0-1 Region IX North).
Missed opportunities plagued the hosts early, as it was the Lancers jumping out to the early 14-7 lead after four minutes.
"We were kind of our own worst enemy. We missed multiple wide open layups, and then we shot 3-11 from the free throw line in the first half," Helenbolt said. "So we were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot there for a little bit."
Northwest battled back, and tied the game at 20 with a minute left in the first quarter, but the Lancers added a 3-pointer in the final minute and to lead 23-20 heading into the second quarter.
The Trappers continued to fight, and eventually recaptured the lead 29-27 four minutes in on a Hickey jump shot, leading for the first time since 7-6 in the first quarter.
Northwest grew its advantage to as many as five, but again the Lancers found a way to take the lead and led 40-39 heading into the locker room.
Early in the third quarter the Trappers took the lead, but the Lancers didn't allow them to break away as Northwest led 52-47 midway through.
It appeared to be a one possession game heading to the fourth, but late free throws from Williams made it 62-57 heading to the final frame.
After Eastern got the first point on a free throw the Trappers went on a 9-0 run to build a double-digit lead, quickly creating separation between the two teams. 
Northwest fully pulled away this time around, as the Trappers built the lead to 20 with three minutes left and finished with that margin of victory 88-68.
Covolo again led with 23 points, shooting efficiently from the field going 10-13 while adding 13 rebounds to complete a double-double.
Hickey had 20 points, Itziar Pozas added 14, Williams had 12 and Pique had 11 as five Trappers hit double figures.
Pique had seven assists to lead the Trappers and Pozas added six steals as Helenbolt said her effort in the fourth helped spark the run to put the game away.
"I thought in the fourth quarter Itziar was phenomenal. That was fun honestly just to see the growth that she's had," Helenbolt said. "She's taken off in the past month … You can just see her getting more comfortable and just being a game wrecker for the other team out there."     

REGION IX CONTINUES
The Trappers continued Region IX North action at home Wednesday night, welcoming in Western Wyoming (14-5 overall, 1-0 Region IX North).
"A very good team, really fast, well-coached," Helenbolt said. "It's gonna be a battle, it'll be fun. It's one of the bigger games we've had around here in awhile with us both being 2-0 in conference."
That result was determined after the press deadline.
Northwest then heads to Gillette at 2 p.m. on Saturday to take on the Pronghorns (13-7 overall, 1-1 Region IX North).
"Having that extra day definitely is gonna be good for us just to get healthy, and just to make sure we're as prepared as we can be," Helenbolt said.
The Trappers then host Casper College (17-3 overall, 1-1 Region IX North) at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.     

NORTHWEST 74, LCCC 46
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — McKinlee Covolo 23, Emma Pique 17, Madison Kaufman 9, Itziar Pozas 8, Jaila Childress 6, Addison Hickey 5, Isabella Williams 4, Saige Kidd 2
Rebounds — Addison Hickey 11 (2), McKinlee Covolo 9 (7), Isabella Williams 6, Jaila Childress 5, Saige Kidd 3 (1), Emma Pique 2 (1), Itziar Pozas 2 (1), Elise Swan 1, Canyon Britt 1, Taylee Carlson 1
Assists — Emma Pique 3, Addison Hickey 3, Isabella Williams 3, Jaila Childress 2, Madison Kaufman 2, Canyon Britt 1, Maddie Mills 1
Steals — Isabella Williams 5, Emma Pique 4, Jaila Childress 4, Madison Kaufman 3, Addison Hickey 1, McKinlee Covolo 1, Itziar Pozas 1    

NORTHWEST 88, EASTERN WYOMING 68
Points — McKinlee Covolo 23, Addison Hickey 20, Itziar Pozas 14, Isabella Williams 12, Emma Pique 11, Madison Kaufman 5, Elise Swan 3
Rebounds — McKinlee Covolo 13 (6), Isabella Williams 8 (2), Addison Hickey 6 (2), Emma Pique 4 (3), Madison Kaufman 1, Elise Swan 1, Itziar Pozas 1, Taylee Carlson 1 (1)
Assists — Emma Pique 7, Isabella Williams 5, Madison Kaufman 4, McKinlee Covolo 2, Itziar Pozas 2, Addison Hickey 1
Steals — Itziar Pozas 6, Madison Kaufman 5, Isabella Williams 5, Emma Pique 4, McKinlee Covolo 1, Addison Hickey 1