Men's Basketball: Raiders Split Games at the Great Western Classic
The Central Community College men's basketball team traveled to Fort Dodge, Iowa, to compete in the Great Western Classic Tournament. The Raiders finished the tournament with a 1-1 record, bringing their season total to 2-2.
Game 1: Vs. Marshalltown Community College
The Central Community College men's basketball team secured a convincing victory on November 7, defeating Marshalltown C C by a final score of 85-70. The Raiders' explosive offense set the tone early, outpacing the Tigers 43-36 in the first half. While MCC attempted a comeback in the second frame, the Raiders' consistent shooting and depth allowed them to maintain a comfortable lead, finishing the game with a 15-point margin. The Raiders' bench played a crucial role, contributing significant scoring and energy throughout the game.
Nevaeh Hawkins led the scoring charge for the Raiders off the bench, tallying a highly efficient 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and a team-high 7 rebounds. Starting forward Brody Johnson also had a spectacular night, scoring 15 points on a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the field, and leading the team with 6 rebounds.
Game 2: Vs. North Central Missouri College
The Raiders dropped a tough contest on the road, losing to North Central Missouri College by a score of 92-83 on November 8. NCMC came out strong, taking an early 44-37 lead into halftime. Despite a spirited second-half effort where the Raiders scored 46 points, they couldn't overcome the initial deficit and the efficiency of the Pirates' offense. The Raiders showed resilience in the second half, fueled by strong play from their reserves. Brandon Jarmon and Tee Liban provided a significant spark off the bench. Jarmon scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3 three-pointers, while Liban matched him with 17 points on a hyper-efficient 6-of-7 shooting, making all 3 of his three-point attempts. The critical difference in the game was free throw disparity and rebounding. NCMC was near-perfect from the line, hitting an outstanding 93.1% (27-of-29) of their free throws, compared to CCC's 66.7% (14-of-21). The Pirates also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Raiders 36-23, which helped create extra scoring opportunities.
The men's basketball team moves to 2-2 and are in action next at Raider Fieldhouse against Mount Marty JV on November 11th.