By James Howey, jhowey@jccc.edu
The college’s women’s basketball squad faced maybe their toughest challenge yet Wednesday night. The Cavs were on the road to face the Highland Community College Scotties. As always, the game was a grinder. With some energy from the crowd and four threes from Daijane Dillard, the Scotties would have the advantage at the half 31-29.
“At first we were a little bit uncomfortable because we started down in the first half,” Nieka Wheeler said. “I think it clicked in the second half that this is the kind of game we’ve been ready to playing up to this year.”
Wheeler was once again a workhorse as she has been this whole year. Wheeler recorded her fourth double-double this season with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Through most of the second half, points were scarce for both teams. The game was tied at 44-all with six minutes left when the Cavs broke away. With great defense and crucial rebounding, the team went on to a 58-49 win to stay perfect at 22-0 this year. Alexis Brown was second in scoring for the squad with 14, and Braile Fields was third with 10.
“Well, any time you go on the road in the league, it’s going to be tough,” Cavaliers head coach Ben Conrad said. “We certainly came in and guarded, we attacked them pretty good offensively and we were able to get to the line.”
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Cavs. They will host the Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils Saturday at 2 p.m. for the lead of the Jayhawk conference. The Devils are 6-1 in conference and 20-2 overall.
“We have to forget about this tomorrow and get to work, and we’ll have a plan in place for KCK,” Conrad said. “I think what I’m most excited about is I think we got better tonight.”