TRAPPER WOMEN SHARE REGIONAL CROWN

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Despite ending the season on a three-game losing streak, including a loss on the road to Western Wyoming Community College 80-72 on Feb. 25, the Northwest College women's basketball team claimed a share of the Region IX North regular season title in a three-way tie.       

WESTERN WYOMING 80, NORTHWEST 72
Finishing the regular season on the road the Trappers (20-10 overall, 8-4 Region IX North) took on the Mustangs (21-9 overall, 8-4 Region IX North).
Still without one of their top five scorers, the Trappers had a slow start in Rock Springs, as the Mustangs led 10-4 midway through the first quarter.
Northwest found its scoring, but trailed by the same margin 20-14 heading into the second quarter after Madison Kaufman hit a half-court shot late in the frame.
The second quarter had more of the same, as the Trappers were unable to cut further into the lead as Western led 30-24 with 4:51 left in the half.
The Mustangs extended the lead further to 36-26 at the break.
"We just had way too many turnovers," coach Cody Helenbolt said. "We were a little too amped up, you could kind of tell that we were the younger team I felt like. Hopefully it's a learning experience for us. How to kind of prepare. You can't win a big game in the first three minutes. It seemed like that's what we were trying to do a little bit, is win right away."
Western tried pulling away in the third quarter, but the Trappers kept within striking distance trailing 49-39.
A strong run at the end of the third put the Trappers within two possessions at a six-point scoreline, but Western hit a halfcourt shot of its own to end the third and led 58-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
"That was kind of a back breaker for us," Helenbolt said.
Northwest again battled to six points down at 66-60, but a 9-0 run by the hosts put the Mustangs comfortably ahead midway through the final frame.
The Trappers were unable to find a way back, and the Mustangs ended with an 80-72 win.
McKinlee Covolo led with 22 points and nine rebounds, Emma Pique added 14 alongside Addison Hickey, and Jaila Childress was the final Trapper in double-figures with 12.
Childress led with six assists while Pique led with four steals.
The Trappers' loss along with a loss by Gillette Saturday and another win by Western Wyoming meant a three-way tie atop the Region IX North standings, giving the Trappers a share of the regular season title.
"To have such a young team and be co-region champs, even though we would have liked to win the league outright, still just a really phenomenal job by our team figuring out conference basketball with all the new pieces that we have this year," Helenbolt said.       

PLAY IN GAME
Despite tying for the regular season crown the Trappers ended as the No. 2 seed heading into the postseason, and will host a play-in game on Saturday afternoon.
Tiebreakers went to Western Wyoming which swept Central Wyoming College to end the regular season, unlike Northwest and Gillette College. The Trappers got the two seed over Gillette due to having more road
conference wins. 
That game will be at Cabre Gym at 1 p.m. against the No. 7 seed out of the Region IX South in Northeastern Junior College (9-21 overall, 5-9 Region IX South).
"They're a good team that's had some big wins this year. The record isn't phenomenal, but that doesn't really indicate the type of team they are," Helenbolt said. "I'm happy that we get to play it at home with our home court advantage, and hopefully our kids are itching to play."       

WESTERN WYOMING 80, NORTHWEST 72
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — McKinlee Covolo 22, Emma Pique 14, Addison Hickey 14, Jaila Childress 12, Madison Kaufman 5, Itziar Pozas 5
Rebounds — McKinlee Covolo 9 (6), Addison Hickey 8 (2), Madison Kaufman 6 (1), Jaila Childress 6, Emma Pique 5 (1), Itziar Pozas 2 (1)
Assists — Jaila Childress 6, Emma Pique 2, Madison Kaufman 2, Itziar Pozas 2, Addison Hickey 1
Steals — Emma Pique 4, Madison Kaufman 2, Jaila Childress 2, Addison Hickey 1, McKinlee Covolo 1, Taylee Carlson 1      

REGION IX PLAY-IN MATCHUPS
(No. 1 seeds Western Wyoming and Lamar Community College receive byes to tournament in Rock Springs)
FRIDAY
5 p.m. No. 5S North Platte Community College at No. 4N Central Wyoming College
SATURDAY
Noon: No. 5N Casper College at No. 4S McCook Community College
1 p.m. No. 6S Southeast Community College at No. 3N Gillette College
1 p.m. No. 7N Laramie County CC at No. 2S Western Nebraska CC
1 p.m. No. 7S Northeastern JC at No. 2N Northwest College
SUNDAY
1 p.m. No. 6N Eastern Wyoming at No. 3S Otero College