TRAPPERS DOMINATE PLAY-IN GAME

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Returning to full strength for the first time in several weeks the Northwest College women's basketball team blitzed past visiting Northeastern Junior College 88-57 in Cabre Gym on Saturday to open postseason play.       

NORTHWEST 88, NORTHEASTERN JC 57
Hosting the Region IX Tournament play-in game with just over a week off following the end of the regular season the No. 2 seeded Trappers (21-10) welcomed in the No. 7 seeded Plainswomen (9-22).
After trailing 5-4 in the opening minute the Trappers broke the game open and held a 16-7 lead midway through the first quarter after a Madison Kaufman jumper.
Northwest quickly pushed it to double-digits shortly after on a pair of McKinlee Covolo free throws, part of her 30 point night, and the Trappers continued stretching the lead nearly to 20 — leading 32-14 after the first quarter.
"She [Covolo] finished really well. She knocked down her free throws. She's had a couple games this year where she could have got to 30 and missed some free throws," coach Cody Helenbolt said. "I think that was a sigh of relief for her, because she's been working on it … It was awesome to see her put those in and take advantage of the aggressive defense that she's seeing against her a lot of times."
The lead hit 20 under a minute into the second on an Itziar Pozas jump shot, and Northwest led 46-19 after a Jaila Childress 3-pointer just past the midway point of the quarter.Northeastern narrowed the gap before the halftime break, trimming it down to 21 as the Trappers led 48-27 heading into the locker room.
The visitors got the lead under 20 early in the second half, but the Trappers did not allow the Plainswomen to go on enough of a run to mount a challenge as Northwest led 63-44 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Trapper's largest lead  was 33 just before the end of the night, as Northwest rolled to an 88-57 win against the Plainswomen.
Covolo led Northwest with 30 points, Childress added 15, Isabella Williams had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in her first action back in several weeks and Emma Pique added 10 as the final Trapper in double-digits.
"Bella, she's such a difference maker. She goes out after not playing really for three weeks, and has 12 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes," Helenbolt said. "That right there shows you exactly what kind of impact she has when she's out there."
Williams led Northwest in rebounds, Pique led with five assists, Kaufman led with four steals and Covolo had Northwest's lone block.
Northwest had significant margins in both rebounds (42-25) and turnovers (20-10), two areas Helenbolt said he and his staff have continued to emphasize week after week to find success.
"Rebounding and turnovers are our focus every game," Helenbolt said. "That's usually the first thing I tell them is that we've got to win those two stats … We almost doubled them up in those two categories, and when you do that, you're gonna win by a lot. It's nice when you can show that result, and then go back to the two stats that you talk about, I think it helps with buy-in from the kids."      

REGION IX TOURNAMENT
Northwest now hits the road for the rest of the postseason, heading to the Region IX Tournament hosted by Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs.
In the play-in games, all but one north team won, as the Trappers will take on a familiar foe in the quarterfinals today (Thursday) at 12:30 p.m.
Northwest starts against Eastern Wyoming College (15-15), a team the Trappers beat both times in the regular season 88-68 at home and 83-61 on the road.
"We are very familiar with each other. I keep telling our kids, we play well and do the things that I know I've seen us do consistently, we're gonna have success," Helenbolt said. "We're at the time of year where, if you don't do those things, your season can be over. It's exciting. It should be a fun atmosphere and a huge challenge for us. I've got a lot of faith in my team that they're up for that."
If Northwest wins, it will take on the winner of the south's No. 1 seed Lamar Community College (20-6) and the north's No. 4 seed Central Wyoming (15-14) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. on Friday.
The championship game will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday with the winner going to the national tournament.
In order to make it to the national tournament for the first time, Helenbolt said consistency will be key all three days.
"We just need to be consistent defensively and use our strengths offensively. Just zero complacency throughout the weekend. Whether it's hitting our spots, guarding our person on defense, knowing tendencies of who we're guarding. Choosing good shots on offense," Helenbolt said. "Just the little things."       

NORTHWEST 88, NORTHEASTERN JC 57
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — McKinlee Covolo 30, Jaila Childress 15, Isabella Williams 12, Emma Pique 10, Itziar Pozas 7, Addison Hickey 6, Madison Kaufman 5, Taylee Carlson 3
Rebounds — Isabella Williams 10 (1), Addison Hickey 8 (5), McKinlee Covolo 8 (6), Madison Kaufman 5 (2), Jaila Childress 4 (1), Emma Pique 3, Taylee Carlson 3 (1), Itziar Pozas 1
Assists — Emma Pique 5, Addison Hickey 4, Isabella Williams 3, Itziar Pozas 2, McKinlee Covolo 1, Fallon Millican 1
Steals — Madison Kaufman 4, Emma Pique 3, Addison Hickey 3, Itziar Pozas 3, Jaila Childress 2, McKinlee Covolo 1
Blocks — McKinlee Covolo 1

PLAY-IN RESULTS
No. 2N Northwest 88, No. 7S Northeastern JC 57
No. 7N Laramie County CC 73, No. 2S Western Nebraska 59
No. 3N Gillette College 90, No. 6S Southeast CC 72
No. 6N Eastern Wyoming 55, No. 3S Otero College 53
No. 5S McCook CC 63, No. 4N Casper College 62
No. 4N Central Wyoming 71, No. 5S North Platte CC 58       

REGION IX TOURNAMENT
(All games at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs)
THURSDAY
Game 1 — 12:30 p.m. No. 2N Northwest vs. No. 6N Eastern Wyoming
Game 2 — 2:30 p.m. No. 1S Lamar CC vs. No. 4N Central Wyoming
Game 3 — 5 p.m. No. 3N Gillette College vs. No. 7N Laramie County CC
Game 4 — 7 p.m. No. 1N Western Wyoming vs. No. 4S McCook CC
FRIDAY
Game 5 — 4 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 — 6 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
SATURDAY
Game 7 — 3 p.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (Championship game)