Both Pronghorns basketball teams win overtime games at home

By PRESTON ZBROSZCZYK NEWS RECORD SPORTS EDITOR preston@gillettenewsrecord.net

Saturday was a thrilling night of basketball at the Pronghorn Center as Gillette College hosted Central Wyoming College. The fans were treated to bonus basketball in both the men's and women's games.

The women won 94-87 in overtime, while the men needed one overtime period to win 64-58 as both teams picked up their first conference win of the season.

The women trailed 42-38 at halftime, but they were down by as much as 10 points, 39-29, as their defense was getting gashed, but the Pronghorns made five 3-point shots to close the gap.

In the second half, freshman forward Addysyn Bayne drove in for a layup and planted on her right knee and came down crying in pain. She had to be helped off the court. No injury designation was given after the game.

Her teammates stepped up and used her injury as motivation.

"My mindset was just knowing that we didn't have someone else to do it, and just really playing for my teammate," said fellow freshman forward Kiyarra Williams. "It's rough when anyone goes down, especially Addy, so (we were) just playing for Addy the rest of the game."

In the second half and in both overtime periods, the Pronghorns stiffened up on defense, and it was the active play from all five who were on court.

From Abbie Nickell sacrificing her body to take a charge to the defensive pressure applied by Lina Ballin and Danae Asiata, and with the physical play by Williams and Rochelle Afo-Manuma, the Pronghorns forced 18 turnovers.

Williams took over for Bayne and scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, including five offensive rebounds, to go along with three assists and seven steals.

The Pronghorns had the last shot at the end of regulation and the first overtime and weren't able to convert, but it was the team's fight and leadership that got them through to a win.

"I would say going back for me, Danae, and Rochelle, we are the three sophomores out there in overtime, and we experienced that overtime against McCook in the playoffs, so we kind of told everyone to give everything you got, there is nothing to lose here," Nickell said. "We definitely told everyone to stay mentally focused."

Ballin had a game-high 27 points, Afo-Manuma scored 21 points, Nickell finished with 11 off the bench, and Asiata had 12.

Gillette College now sits at 13-7 on the season with a 1-1 conference record. They are top three in scoring in Region IX North with 75 points per game and are shooting 41% from the field. Getting that first conference win at home was a relief for the team.

"It feels great, and it feels great to get the first one at home," Nickell said. "We knew coming into this, we couldn't lose a home game, so to make a statement here. Even though we got down in the first quarter, there was no one who thought we were done — there was no giving up. We just kept telling each other, we are not losing this game."

Men's basketball

Shawn Neary's team plays well at home.

Last season, the Pronghorns went 16-1 at home and are 6-0 so far this season.

But Saturday was the team's worst offensive performance of the season so far, as they only scored 24 points in the first half and trailed by three at halftime.

"We definitely set basketball back a couple of years with that one," Neary said after the game.

But the team found a way to win.

They were down three, 55-52, with four seconds left, and Central Wyoming missed a free throw.

Sayed Sayed dribbled the ball past half court and threw up a prayer, keeping his feet behind the line and before the buzzer sounded. It wasn't a good offensive night for Sayed, who finished with 12 points and shot 2-for-10 from the field, but he didn't stop shooting.

And this shot went in to send the game into overtime, where Gillette College would outscore Central Wyoming 9-3.

"Coach just told me to keep going, keep attacking, and right there with not a lot of time, I knew we needed a three, and it went in," Sayed said.

It was another 20-point night for the team's leading scorer, Rashad McCormick, who ended with a game-high 24 points, and Jaden Smith had 12 points.

The team is now 8-9 on the season.

Both Pronghorn teams will be at Eastern Wyoming College on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and back at the Pronghorn Center Saturday, Jan. 24, to take on Northwest College.