By Marissa VanWingen
Ellsworth Community College (25-6) led Northeast Community College by 20 points in the second half before the Hawks made a surge and nearly upset ECC on their home floor. The Panthers held on tight for the 83-82 win to advance to the Region XI final on Tuesday.
"We've gone through a lot of highs and lows with this group," said Panther head coach Bryan Bender. "We love adversity and virtually un-panicked with it. It's a mature group that found a way."
Northeast led early in the contest until a Tanner Berggren three-pointer evened the score at 12-all. Chase Low's basket made it 19-18 with ECC on top for the first time. The Panthers then went on a 16-5 run capped by a Low dunk and the advantage swelled to seven (30-23). The difference reached double figures for the first time at 33-23 with 9:02 left to go in the first half and it was 11 (47-36) at the half.
ECC came out of the locker room hot. On another Low dunk, the Panthers were on top by 20 for the first time (70-50). The Hawks steadily cut into the deficit, going on a 16-6 run of their own and with 3:20 on the clock were within 10 once again.
ECC's lead was 80-70 when Northeast made a free throw and hit a long ball. The visitors were nine of 22 from beyond the arc and five of those makes were in the second half. The lead continued to dissipate, down to 80-74 and then it was just four (81-77). Northeast had all of the momentum as they knocked down two free throws to make it a one possession game in the final minute of the contest but never took the lead. While the sixth-place team kept ECC fans on their toes until the end, the Panthers advanced with the one point win.
In the game, Northeast was 25-32 from the charity stripe while the Panthers were 13 of 20. Down the stretch, the hosts were just three of eight.
In the final minute of the game the hosts led 81-79. Jacob Khounsourath drained a pair of free throws to extend ECC's advantage to 83-79. Northeast hit a triple with 11 seconds on the clock to cut the deficit to one. Trying to force a turnover, the Hawks trapped Christian Johnson before being forced to foul. Johnson missed both free throws as Northeast got the rebound. The Hawks (14-12) had an open look from three-point range but missed the winning shot to keep the Panthers season alive.
ECC was led by three in double figures. Jayden Pretty tallied 17, Jonovan Wilkinson and Collins Ngondu each had 13.
The win sends ECC to the Region XI-B Final versus Iowa Central on Tuesday. The Tritons have won both meetings by less than 10 points. That game will be played in Fort Dodge at 7 p.m.
For more photos, visit https://www.timescitizen.com/gallery/
Region XI-B Semifinal
Saturday at Iowa Falls
NECC: 36| 46 – 82
ECC: 47| 36 – 83
ECC Scoring: Jayden Pretty 7 2-2 17; Collins Ngondu 5 0-0 13; Jonovan Wilkinson 3 6-7 13; Tanner Berggren 3 0-0 9; Eesher Singh Sarai 3 1-2 8; Will Taylor 3 0-0 7; Chase Low 3 1-3 7; Jacob Khounsourath 1 2-2 4; Christian Johnson 1 1-4 3; Dan Pembele 1 0-0 2.