North Platte regained control of the lead in the closing seconds, but a pair of late free throws propel Western Nebraska Community College to an 87-86 win in the opening round of the Region IX postseason tournament.
North Platte finished the game with four players in double figures. Ramiah Adedigba led the Knights with 24 points, while teammates Antwone Gonzales (22), Kayden Crosby (13), and Bruce Carpenter (11) rounded out the Knights players in double digits.
Inside the final five minutes of regulation, North Platte held a 77-71 lead after Gonzales connected from beyond the arc. The Cougars recaptured the momentum while utilizing a 9-0 run, before a turnover and two-handed jam by Gonzales gave the Knights the one-point advantage just inside a minute to play.
The heat turned up as the seconds wound down as the Cougars and Knights traded the lead. Crosby battled for the offensive rebound before getting his putback to fall to temporarily give the lead back to the Knights inside twenty seconds to play. Western Nebraska responded by attacking the rim and were awarded two free throw opportunities.
Biko Johnson stepped to the free throw line and knocked down both his attempts with one second remaining, as the lead changed hands one final time. Aleksa Rudic received the inbound and fired a half-court shot that was just off the mark, as the Cougars survive and advance in postseason play.
The Knights finished the game shooting 50.8 percent (32-63) from the field, but just 61.1 percent (11-18) from the free throw line. North Platte won the rebounding battle, 42-28, but Western Nebraska converted 14 turnovers into 19 points.
North Platte leapt out to an 18-8 lead on a long-range jumper by Adedigba. The Cougars matched the energy as a run midway through the half gave Western Nebraska the 30-26 advantage with 7:55 to play.
The Knights and Cougars traded baskets for the remainder of the half, before four straight points gave North Platte the 49-46 halftime lead.
North Platte finishes the 2022-23 season with a 13-16 overall record.
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