2019-20 WNCC Men's Basketball News
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Engel excited to lead Cougar men’s basketball team
July 20, 2020Billy Engel loves basketball and has assembled a good team for next year as he takes the reigns of the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team after former head coach Cory Fehringer moved on to be an assistant coach at the Division I level at the University of Northern Colorado. Engel’s move to the interim head coaching chair is a move that Engel is excited to take on after playing and coaching under Fehringer. “I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to take over as interim head coach this season,” Engel said. “Western Nebraska Community College has been an amazing place to start my coaching career. For the last three years I got to learn from and work with Cory Fehringer, one of the best coaches in the country. I plan on carrying over a lot of what Cory did to make Western Nebraska so prominent in the last four years. The way Cory built a culture of love and family in the locker room was vital to our success, and I am hoping to build off of that with our returning sophomores and incoming freshmen.” -
Fehringer headed to Northern Colorado as an assistant coach
July 17, 2020Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball coach Cory Fehringer will be heading back to his home state of Colorado to become an assistant coach at Division I University of Northern Colorado. It was a move fell at the right time as his coaching mentor Steve Smiley was named the head coach of the men’s basketball program at UNC earlier this year. Fehringer said he hasn’t lived in Colorado for the last 13 years, spending time in Nebraska and North Dakota as a player and coach.
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WNCC’s Baez heading to LCCC to be an assistant coach
April 26, 2020The decision to leave Western Nebraska Community College wasn’t an easy decision for Roybell Baez. But after weeks of thinking it over, Baez decided to take the offer of an interim assistant coach at Laramie County Community College with the men’s basketball program.
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Three WNCC men's basketball players placed on OWH High School All-Decade Team
April 24, 2020Western Nebraska Community College and the Panhandle were well represented on the Omaha World Herald Nebraska Boys High School All-Decade team that was released earlier in April. Teddy Allen, who played three semesters at Boys Town and finished his sophomore season at WNCC this year, was the big name as the 6-foot-4 wing player earned a First Team All-class honor. Allen was also on the Class C-1 team. Five players from all the classes were picked for the first two teams. The Second Team All-class had Kimball’s Mike Daum listed.
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Three WNCC Cougars make OWH All-Nebraska JUCO team
April 14, 2020Three Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball players made the Omaha World Herald JUCO All-Nebraska team that was released over the weekend. Sophomore Teddy Allen earned the biggest honor, earning the honorary captain of the All-Nebraska JUCO team. Freshmen Kenny Strawbridge and Kalen Williams earned honorable mention honors on the junior college team. Allen had a huge season in his one year at WNCC. The Boys Town graduate and University of Nebraska commit led the NJCAA in scoring with a 31.4 points per game average. Allen shot 51.4 percent from the field and 88.1 percent from the charity stripe.
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Allen, Strawbridge make South All-region
March 27, 2020A couple Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball players earned South All-Region honors that was released after the men’s Region IX basketball tournament. Teddy Allen, a sophomore who led the nation in scoring, was a first-team South All-region selection. Allen averaged 31.4 points a game and shot 88.1 percent from the free throw line. Allen is a University of Nebraska verbal commit. WNCC’s Kenny Strawbridge, a freshman athletically, earned South All-region third team honors. Strawbridge averaged 15 points a contest in his first year at WNCC.
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WNCC men fall in semis to NJC
March 07, 2020STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a strong first half, but then struggled in the second half in falling to Northeastern Junior College 94-84 in the semifinals of the Region IX tournament in Sterling, Colorado, Friday night. NJC moves into the title game where they will face Western Wyoming Community College. The Mustangs topped Gillette College 87-74. WNCC finishes the season 19-12.
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Allen scores 45, WNCC men top Casper in OT at regionals
March 06, 2020STERLING, Colo. – Teddy Allen scored 45 points and the Western Nebraska Community College overcame a late second half deficit to drop Casper College 112-108 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Region IX Tournament in Sterling, Colorado. “As we have been all year, our coaching staff is proud of the players and programs efforts,” WNCC head coach Cory Fehringer said. “Circumstances have not been in our favor too often, yet these seven young men continue to battle with resiliency in their bones.”
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WNCC set for quarterfinals against Casper
March 04, 2020The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team’s goal of reaching the NJCAA national tournament will continue on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the Region IX tournament. The Cougars, 18-11, will face Casper College at 5 p.m. at Sterling, Colorado. The other quarterfinal contests Thursday at Northeastern Junior College, the site of the regional tournament, pits Otero against Gillette at 1 p.m., Western Wyoming Community College against McCook at 3 p.m.; and NJC taking on Central Wyoming College at 7 p.m.
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WNCC tops Trinidad to advance to regionals
February 29, 2020The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put four in double figures and led from start to finish while registering a 90-82 win over Trinidad State Junior College in a first-round regional tournament game Saturday at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 18-11 on the year and advances the Cougars into the quarterfinals of the Region IX tournament next Thursday in Sterling, Colorado.
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WNCC men host Trinidad Saturday at noon in first-round regional tourney game
February 27, 2020The regular season is compete and it is tournament time for the Western Nebraska Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams as first-round Region IX games are slated for this weekend. The Cougar men, 17-11, will host a first-round regional game on Saturday, Feb. 29, at 12 noon against Trinidad State Junior College. The Cougar men enter the post-season as the No. 3 seed from the South sub-region. A win Saturday moves the Cougars into the quarterfinals March 5-7 in Sterling, Colorado.
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WNCC men fall to Otero
February 22, 2020LA JUNTA, Colo. -- Teddy Allen finished with a double-double but it wasn’t enough as the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team dropped a 109-101 South Sub-region contest to Otero Junior College Friday night. WNCC finishes the regular season with a 17-11 record and is 7-5 in conference play. Otero moves to 23-6 overall and 7-4 in the conference. Otero has Trinidad State Junior College on Tuesday. WNCC will now host a first-round playoff game next weekend when the pairings come out on Wednesday.
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WNCC men top Trinidad 98-86
February 19, 2020TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team outscored Trinidad State Junior College 52-37 in the second half in earning a 98-86 South Sub-region win Tuesday on the road in Trinidad, Colorado. The win was huge for the Cougars as they secured a home first-round playoff game for the last weekend in February. WNCC moves to 17-10 overall and more importantly to 7-4 in the South Sub-Region.
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WNCC men fight back, fall to Lamar 100-98
February 16, 2020LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team fell behind by 24 at halftime, but outscored Lamar Community College 62-40 in the second half, only to come up two points short in falling 100-98 to the Runnin’ Lopes Friday at Lamar, Colorado, in a Region IX South Sub-region contest. It was the Cougars’ third straight loss but still keeps the Cougars in the top four of the South sub-region at 6-4 with two conference games left to play. NJC leads the sub-region with a 10-0 record followed by Otero at 5-3. WNCC is 16-10 on the season.
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Late run leads NJC to win over WNCC men
February 14, 2020The Northeastern Junior College men’s basketball team used a late 12-0 run to pull away for a 97-77 win over Western Nebraska Community College in Region IX South Sub-region play Thursday night at Cougar Palace. The loss drops the Cougars to 16-9 and 6-3 in south sub-region action. NJC moved to 20-6 but more importantly to 10-0 with two conference games left. The Plainsmen, with the win Thursday night, earned the right to host the Region IX tournament in March.
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EWC men shoot past WNCC
February 11, 2020TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball team trailed just once in the contest and sho past Western Nebraska Community College 85-74 in action Monday night at Torrington, Wyo. The loss drops the Cougars to 16-8 on the season while EWC moves to 12-13. WNCC will be back in action Thursday for a key South Sub-region contest against conference-leading Northeastern Junior College in the team’s final regular-season home game. The Lancers will host Casper College in a North Sub-region contest on Wednesday.
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WNCC nips North Platte
February 05, 2020The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a poor night shooting, but Kalen Williams 23 points and three free throws with under 30 seconds to play lifted the Cougar men to a 76-72 win over North Platte Community College in South Sub-region action Tuesday night at Cougar Palace. Elie Cadet, who finished with 13 points and five rebounds, said the team finds ways to win and they did tonight.
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WNCC men top No. 7 Otero
February 01, 2020Western Nebraska Community College’s Teddy Allen recorded a triple-double and the Cougar men limited the No. 7 Otero Junior College men’s basketball team to just 32 second-half points in recording a 99-80 South Sub-region win over Otero Friday night at Cougar Palace. It was the Cougars third straight win but more importantly, moves WNCC into second place in the sub-region at 4-2. Northeastern Junior College leads the south sub-region with a 5-0 record while Otero drops to 3-2. WNCC moves to 14-7 on the season while Otero drops to 19-3.
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WNCC men come back to topple Trinidad
January 29, 2020Kalen Williams hit the go-ahead jumper and a Kenny Strawbridge block with five seconds to play gave the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team a thrilling come-from-behind win over Trinidad State Junior College 90-89 in South Sub-region action Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 13-7 overall and 3-2 in sub-region play. The win was one where the Cougars trailed most of the night, including a 40-29 halftime deficit and then trailed by 10 points, 70-60, with under 10 minutes to play.
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WNCC men pick up win over Lamar
January 22, 2020The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball used a balanced scoring in capturing their 12th win of the season with a 101-80 win over Lamar Community College Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace. All eight Cougars that saw action scored with five scoring in double figures. Teddy Allen led WNCC with 24 points. Allen tallied a double-double, finishing with 12 rebounds.
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WNCC men fall to North Platte
January 19, 2020NORTH PLATTE – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team outscored North Platte Community College 62-54 but couldn’t get the go-ahead shot to fall to the Knights 101-98 in the Region IX South sub-region contest Saturday evening. The contest was back and forth as there were 12 lead changes and six ties. North Platte had the largest lead at 47-35 just before halftime. The Knights held a 47-36 lead at intermission.
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WNCC men come back to down McCook
January 15, 2020The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 37 points from Teddy Allen and the Cougars outscored McCook Community College 62-44 in the second half to pick up the come-from-behind 99-90 Region IX South sub-region win Tuesday night at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 11-6 on the season and evens their South sub-region record at 1-1. The Cougars will look for win number two in the sub-region when they travel to North Platte Community College Saturday evening.
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WNCC falls to NJC to open conference play
January 11, 2020STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College and Northeastern Junior College men’s basketball teams combined for 207 points in a wild one at Sterling, Colorado, Friday evening to open Region IX South sub-region play. The WNCC men held a 53-50 halftime led and then watched Northeastern outscore the Cougars 55-49 in the second half to register a 105-102 win. The loss stops the Cougars 6-game winning streak. WNCC moves to 10-6 on the season while NJC goes to 10-6. WNCC will look to get back on the winning track when they host McCook Community College on Tuesday in a South conference contest.
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WNCC tops LCCC for sixth straight win
January 04, 2020CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team opened the new year by putting five players in double figures in rolling over Laramie County Community College 93-56 Saturday afternoon in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Cougars led from start to finish in claiming their sixth straight win to improve to 10-5 on the season.
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WNCC men capture ninth win of season
December 10, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team led from start to finish, but had to fight off comebacks from Eastern Wyoming College all night long in registering an 82-69 win Monday night at Cougar Palace. Teddy Allen led the Cougars with a double-double of 34 points and 10 rebounds, but more importantly was 14 of 15 from the charity stripe.
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Allen, Strawbridge combine for 59 in win over Sheridan
December 04, 2019Teddy Allen and Kenny Strawbridge combined for 59 points and the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team led from start to finish in picking up their eighth win of the season Tuesday night at Cougar Palace. WNCC opened the game with a 9-0 run and never trailed in the first half in leading 51-44 at halftime. There were just two lead changes and two ties in the contest. Allen, who finished with 38 points and nine rebounds, said they played alright.
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WNCC dunks past Minnesota Prep 123-96
December 01, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had over 10 dunks and shot 72 percent from the field in registering a 123-96 win over the Minnesota Prep Academy on the second day of the Thanksgiving Classic at Cougar Palace on Saturday. WNCC had four players hit double digits in the contest and dished out 27 assists in moving to 7-5 on the season.
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WNCC men earn win over Rainy River
November 30, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 33 points from Teddy Allen the Cougars survived Rainy River Community College 101-87 on the first day of the Thanksgiving Classic. The first game saw Trinidad State Junior College register a 107-65 win over the Minnesota Prep Academy. Action in the Thanksgiving Classic will continue Saturday at noon when Rainy River faces Trinidad, while Minnesota Prep will battle WNCC at 2 p.m.
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WNCC men shoot past Rexburg
November 24, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team shot 61 percent and put five players in double figures in rolling to a 97-79 win over Rexburg United Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The Cougars had a balanced offensive output, burying eight treys while dishing out 24 assists in evening their record at 5-5 with the win.
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WNCC men fall to Williston
November 23, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team competed with Williston State College for much of the contest, but in the end, the Tetons had four players score over 20 points in registering a 94-82 win Friday night at Cougar Palace. WNCC will look to get back on track Saturday afternoon as the Cougars host Rexburg United at 4 p.m. Rexburg fell to Northeastern Junior College in the first game Friday 81-58.
