Western Nebraska Tops Laramie County 81-66
Western Nebraska Community College's men's basketball team earned its third straight win on Saturday in the Cougar Classic.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
Western Nebraska Community College's men's basketball team defeated Laramie County Community College 81-66, extending its winning streak to three games. The team followed a Friday win over Colby, 88-77, in the Cougar Classic.
Why it matters
The wins give Western Nebraska momentum heading into the Battle of the Boot tournament, where it will face College of Southern Idaho on Thursday. Strong shooting and balanced scoring across the roster point to a team building consistency early in the season.
Western Nebraska shot 43% from the field and hit nine 3-pointers in its 81-66 win over Laramie County, with Trey George scoring 21 points. Against Colby, Ernesto Almonte scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting in the 88-77 victory.
The players
Western Nebraska Community College
A two-year public college in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, whose men's basketball program competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Trey George
A Western Nebraska guard who was the team's leading scorer with 21 points against Laramie County.
The details
Western Nebraska trailed Laramie County at no point in the second half after taking a 35-33 halftime lead, with Rasmus Olop adding 19 points and Devin McIntyre 13. Against Colby, Olop and Almonte combined for 50 points and six 3-pointers, while Kendrick Preston added 11 for the Cougars.
Timeline
Friday: Western Nebraska defeated Colby 88-77 to open the Cougar Classic.
Saturday: Western Nebraska defeated Laramie County 81-66.
Thursday at noon: Western Nebraska opens the Battle of the Boot tournament against College of Southern Idaho.
Season Trajectory
Early-season invitational tournaments like the Cougar Classic and Battle of the Boot are a standard route for NJCAA programs to build a record that affects conference seeding later in the year. Western Nebraska's three-game win streak positions it to test itself against another regional opponent in Idaho this week.
The 3-0 start puts Western Nebraska in position to enter the Battle of the Boot with momentum, and the tournament's Thursday noon opener is the next concrete test. Fantasy and bracket watchers following NJCAA play can track Almonte, who posted 26 points against Colby.
The takeaway
Consistent shooting and contributions from multiple scorers have carried Western Nebraska through its first three games. Maintaining that balance against Southern Idaho on Thursday will show whether the early-season form holds against stronger competition.
What happens next
Western Nebraska opens the Battle of the Boot tournament against College of Southern Idaho on Thursday at noon.
Further reading
For more on the program's season, see the Basketball section.
