Perez keys NCCC to tourney title
Photo by Cheryl Wertman
Alba Perez
Medina High graduate Alba Perez scored the game winning basket on a putback as time expired to earn the Niagara County Community College women’s basketball team a 57-55 victory over Muskegon Community College this afternoon in the championship game of the Henry Ford Community College Hawks Classic.
Perez had a game high 18 points and 13 rebounds on the day to earn the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, her third such honor this season.
Talliyah Hopkins, who was named to the All-Tournament team, added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals for NCCC as Alliyah Gillespie chipped in with 15 points and 4 assists.
In the semifinals on Friday, NCCC nipped Macomb Community College 64-61 in overtime as Perez scored 15 points and grabbed off a game high 22 rebounds.
Starpoint grad Jenna Faulkner scored a game tying three for NCCC at the end of regulation time and Petyon Butts blocked a potential game tying three point attempt at the end of overtime to preserve the Thunderwolvers narrow win.
Hopkins led NCCC with 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.
