Trappers return to action at Shoot Out

Posted 11/18/10

“It's always great to play a couple more home games, and that wouldn't be possible without sponsorship,” Trapper head coach and athletic director Andy Ward said. “An event like this givs the community and our students the …

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Trappers return to action at Shoot Out

Posted

{gallery}11_18_10/trapperwbb{/gallery}Northwest College head coach Janis Beal discusses strategy during a timeout in early-season action. The team returns to Ken Rochlitz Court at 5:30 p.m. this Saturday against a team of former NWC all-stars. The Trapper men play at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights. Tribune photo by Randal Horobik Sponsored event provides opportunity for more home gamesTwo weeks have passed since the Northwest College men's basketball team opened the season by splitting games against top-ranked Midland College and Colorado Christian. This Friday, the Trappers make their home debut as part of the First National Bank Shoot Out.

“It's always great to play a couple more home games, and that wouldn't be possible without sponsorship,” Trapper head coach and athletic director Andy Ward said. “An event like this givs the community and our students the opportunity to see more home games and it gives our athletes a chance to play a couple more games on their home court. We really appreciate what they do for us.”

Joining the Trappers for the event will be the University of Montana-Western, Sheridan College and the Colorado All-Stars. Northwest College faces Montana-Western on Friday night before taking on the Colorado All-Stars on Saturday.

Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Both opponents will come to Cabre Gymnasium as a bit of a mystery to Ward.

“I don't know much about Western Montana,” Ward said. “I know they'll be a well-coached team, because that's a good program, but we're not sure what to expect from them defensively. We've been practicing for both man and zone.”

Similarly, the Trappers' head coach has yet to even see a roster from the Colorado All-Star team that will be in attendance.

“It will be interesting,” said Ward. “Of course, we play them Saturday, so we'll be able to watch them play Sheridan on Friday night and get an idea of what they like to do there. The important thing when you're facing an all-star team is to jump on them early, because those are usually guys who have a lot of collegiate experience, so the longer you let them stick around, the more dangerous they become.”

According to Ward, the Trappers have spent the past two weeks mending up from some early injuries and a wave of illness that swept through the team last week. The team has also been shoring up areas of the offense and defense after their opening weekend.

“Our focus hasn't been so much on our opponents as it has been on what we're doing as the Trappers,” said Ward.

“We went back and looked at game film and saw some things we needed to work on and areas we needed to improve, and we've been dealing with those. We've had some good, lively practices and I think the guys are anxious to get back out on the court.”

Also anxious to get back on the court will be Northwest College women's basketball coach Janis Beal. The Trapper women, 2-3 overall, face the Northwest College All-Stars at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“We've got Kati Oliverson and Jamie Zogmeister coming back from last year's team, but then we've also got players that were around when I played basketball and even one that played before I was here as a student,” said Beal. “It will be quite the wide range of age groups.”

This weekend represents the last chance for fans to watch the Trappers at home before the month of December. The Northwest College women travel to Salt Lake City next week for tournament action while the men's team will head east to Sheridan College for a two-day event.

Both teams will be back in action at home on Dec. 3.

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