Red Ravens fend off T-Birds, 68-62

Despite a dismal shooting performance from three-point range, the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds kept hanging around against the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens.
Cloud County connected on just 1 of 19 three-point attempts for 5 percent in the game, but trailed Coffeyville just 54-49 with just under nine minutes to play.
The Red Ravens were able to push the lead to 10 points and then hold on for a 68-62 Jayhawk Conference win Saturday afternoon in Bryant Gymnasium.
Suffering a fourth consecutive defeat, the T-Birds are now 14-13 overall and 9-12 in conference play.
“We just have a hard time scoring and not being able to hit any threes, and not having Mai we were a little bit limited on our interior scoring options. And it made it difficult for us to score,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said.
Maimouna Sissoko, the T-Birds’ second-leading scorer, missed a second straight game because of illness and Josephine Igherighe was limited because of an injured ankle.
“We just kind of ran out of options offensively,” Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County led 6-4 when Alize Ruiz scored with 6:27 to play in the first quarter.
The T-Birds would then score just two points over the next six minutes.
Coffeyville, which halted a four-game losing streak to improve to 16-11 overall and 12-9 in the conference, used a 14-2 spurt to grab an 18-10 advantage.
Sarah Lawless scored the final two points of the first period, and Cloud County trailed 18-10.
Getting baskets by Ruiz, Te Araroa Sopoaga and Jessi Brummett in the first 2:31 of the second quarter, the T-Birds pulled within two points, 18-16.
Knocking down three three-point shots during a quick 9-3 spurt gave Coffeyville a 27-19 cushion.
The Red Ravens finished 9 of 25 from three-point range for 36 percent.
Cloud County was trailing 29-22 when Lilly Smith connected on its only three of the game and Sopoaga followed up a missed shot to make it 29-27.
Tetona Woods-Blackrow made a three to put the Red Ravens up 32-27
Smith scored with 12 seconds remaining in the half, Sopoaga came up with a steal and got fouled seven seconds later. She made one of two free throws to pull Cloud County back within two points, 32-30, at halftime.
Sopoaga led all scorers with 24 points. She was 8 of 15 from the field and eight of nine from the free throw line.
“I thought Te played a nice game. She did a good job on both ends,” Erkenbrack said.
Smith made one of two free throws with 28 seconds gone by in the second half, and Cloud County trailed just 32-31.
Clinging to a 36-35 advantage, the Red Ravens outscored the T-Birds 16-6 over the next six minutes to take their biggest lead of the game at 52-41.
Back-to-back baskets by Lawless cut the deficit to seven points, 52-45.
A pair of free throws by Baily Layman gave Coffeyville a 54-45 cushion going into the final quarter.
Sopoaga made two free throws and Ruiz scored inside, which left the T-Birds trailing 54-49 with 8:49 to play.
Coffeyville responded with a pair of free throws by Natorie Graham and a three by Layman to go up 59-49.
Cloud County would climb back to within six points, 63-57, with 5:35 remaining, but couldn’t chase down the Red Ravens.
“We just couldn’t get over the hump. We were playing uphill all day long. Chasing them all day. We had opportunities but didn’t capitalize,” Erkenbrack said.
Ruiz finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for Cloud County.
Brummett added seven points and nine rebounds.
Layman, who was four of seven from three-point range, and Cheyenne Banks each scored 16 points for Coffeyville.
Following two straight home games, the T-Birds are back on the road to play Garden City Community College on Wednesday night.