Box Score CHANUTE, Kansas — The Cloud County Community College men's basketball team received big performances from forward Ramion Burt Jr. and Solomon Finley, but were unable to steal a road win Saturday as the T-Birds fell 95-83 to Neosho County.
Burt Jr. recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Finley went off for a career-high 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
Unfortunately for the T-Birds (6-16 overall, 3-15 KJCCC), struggles at the free-throw line and a sizzling night from the field for Neosho County (8-14 overall, 6-12 KJCCC) made the difference.
Cloud County finished 13-of-23 (57 percent) at the charity stripe — the Panthers were 27-of-31 (87 percent) — and Neosho County finished the evening at an even 50 percent shooting (31-of-62) from the floor.
The T-Birds limited themselves to 11 turnovers for the game, but Neosho County was able to do damage with the few opportunities as it finished with a 16-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
Despite the hot shooting by the Panthers, the T-Birds were able to keep pace much of the evening as they trailed 36-32 at the half and held a 50-49 lead as late as the 14:09 mark of the second half on a 3-pointer from Alvin Thompson.
Neosho County countered with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to push its lead back up to nine at 61-52. The T-Birds were unable to inch any closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Panthers held on for the 95-83 final.
Sophomore forward Shawn Lee joined Burt Jr. and Finley in double-figures with 10 points off the bench, while Alvin Thompson and JaVary Christmas each chipped in nine points.
Cloud County will return home Wednesday to host Colby Community College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
