Thunderbirds stymie Doane junior varsity, 62-26

Solid defensively, but sporadic offensively, the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat the Doane University junior varsity 62-26 Monday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
Cloud County limited Doane to just 16 percent (7 of 44) from the field and forced 30 turnovers.
The T-Birds, playing a third game in four days, hit just 27 of 70 field goal attempts for 39 percent, including 3 of 19 three-point tries for 16 percent, and 5 of 10 free throws. They turned the ball over 21 times.
“There was some good and bad. It was a mixed bag,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said, “Cassidy Haufler was really good with 14 points and 13 rebounds in about 19 minutes of play. She was dominant inside, and Scout Frame ended up scoring quite a bit for us. I kind of question how we can play a team like Doane JV, which came down here with just seven players and knew they wouldn't be real strong. We should have been able to score more than 62 points.”
Cloud County (4-1) scored the first seven points of the game, four by Frame, and would never trail.
Frame, a sophomore forward, led all scorers with 20 points. She was 10 of 18 from the floor, and grabbed nine rebounds.
Two free throws by Doane's Kalie Bloom made it a 7-2 game with 6:14 to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers would then go nearly six minutes without scoring.
Lydia Ostenson came off the bench to score seven points during a 13-0 spurt that gave the T-Birds a 20-2 advantage.
Nevaeh made one of two free throws with 32 seconds to play in the period, and Doane trialed 20-3.
The Tigers' first field goal of the game came when Miller connected on a three-point shot 19 seconds into the second period that made it a 20-6 game.
Cloud County scored just eight points in the first 9:28 of the period, and led just 28-17 when Doane's Cheyenne Ostrander knocked down a three with under a minute to play.
“We weren't hitting any shots, certainly. We were concentrating on getting the ball inside a bit, and I think we passed up some comfortable shots and passed up on some scoring opportunities,” Erkenbrack said, “What's frustrating for me is to see a lot of opportunities on the floor, two-on-one and three-on-two, where it looks like we have a layup opportunity and we end up trying to force a pass that end up in a turnover or missed shot. We have to tighten that up and be a little more aggressive.”
Haufler grabbed and offensive rebound and scored to put Cloud County up 30-17 at halftime. The 6-0 sophomore was 7 of 10 from the floor in scoring her 14 points.
Cloud County would dash any hopes of a Doane comeback by scoring the first 13 points of the second half.
Four straight points by Haufler and the six straight by Frame put the T-Birds on top 40-17.
Chase Siedlik then knocked down a three to make it 43-17.
Siedlik came off the bench to score 10 points.
“Chase looked more comfortable. I thought she had a good ballgame on both ends. She did some nice things defensively and hit some shots against the zone,” Erkenbrack said.
Doane went 5:58 without scoring before Makenna Weddle made one of two free throws with 4:02 to play in the third period.
Siedlik answered with another three that gave Cloud County a 46-18 advantage.
Neither team would scored the final 3:38 of the quarter.
Frame scored twice in the first 31 seconds of the final period.
A basket by Haufler and a three-point play by Maeson Dewey put the T-Birds up 55-18.
Daone would get no closer than 24 points over the final five minutes.
Ostensen scored 11 points for Cloud County off the bench.
“Lydia is such a good athlete who runs by people and had a couple of three-point play opportunities. She gives us a whole different dimension out there with her speed and quickness,” Ekrenbrack said.
Miller led Doane with 10 points.
Cloud County will play a fourth game in six days when it hosts North Platte Community College at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The T-Birds opened the season with an 86-48 win over North Platte on its home floor.