Published: November 20, 2006 11:45 pm         

NOC Enid splits with Connors

By Chris Dell

Staff Writer



At times during their game against Connors State, the Northern Oklahoma College Enid men’s basketball team probably felt like it was playing another in-state squad with orange and black uniforms nicknamed the Cowboys.

Connors State looked much better than a junior college team as it hit seemingly every shot midway through the second half on its way to a 23-point lead. NOC Enid went on a late 23-6 run but still ended up losing to the Cowboys 73-67 at the Mabee Center Monday.

The Lady Jets beat Connors 82-65 in the women’s game.

In the men’s game, Connors led 33-23 at halftime. The Jets would not come within single digits until there were fewer than 30 seconds remaining in the game.

“It seemed like they hit everything,” said Jets coach Greg Shamburg. “As bad as I think we played, we only gave up 73 points.

“We didn’t run our offense efficiently. If we got down six, we thought we had to score six points on one possession.”

Connors’ Charles Moore had a game-high 18 points. Dylan Gilliam added 17 The two combined for nearly half of the Cowboys’ second-half points.

Connors allowed NOC Enid’s late game run with five turnovers in the final three minutes. The Cowboys had 25 turnovers for the game.

Ty’Shaun Pace led the Jets in scoring with 17. Robert Johnson had 16 and York Sims, who played the second half with a sprained ankle, had 13.

The Jets will face Butler County, Kan., Community College Wednesday night in a single game.

NOC ENID 82, CONNORS 65

Five players scored in double figures for the Lady Jets, led by Megan Byford’s 23 points.

Heather Graham and Sheri Yost both had 12 points. Pearle Hare and Ashlee Smith had 10 each.

“We played really unselfishly tonight,” said Lady Jets coach Scott Morris. “We turned down open looks to get the ball down to Megan inside when she was open. That’s a tribute to our team’s chemistry.”

Ironically, the Cowgirls outshot the Lady Jets from the 3-point line. The Lady Jets, who have prided themselves on their marksmanship from beyond the arc, only hit three 3-pointers. Connors’ Keishell Paul hit five by herself. Paul finished with 16 points, and Kiandra Metoyer finished with 15 for the Cowgirls.

The Lady Jets will take the Thanksgiving holiday off before they travel to face Northeastern A&M next Monday in the first half of a women’s-men’s doubleheader.