Print edition: 
HUTCHINSON — Coaching 41 years at Three Rivers has brought along with it enough experience for Gene Bess to recognize the signs of the great teams.
Bess has won two NJCAA championships and this year's team took a step closer to winning another one with the Raiders' 83-73 quarterfinal victory over Northwest Florida State on Wednesday night at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Bess saw some good signs in the way his team clinched the win, making 12 of 13 free throws and picking up three crucial stops in the final three minutes.
"Championships are won by great players," Bess said. "And we're blessed to have some on our team."
Marquise Carter is the first to come to mind. The 6-foot-4 guard, who is weighing offers from Oklahoma, Gonzaga and Wichita State among others, poured in a game-high 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
"We always stress the last five minutes is ours," Carter said. "So we try to rally on that."
After Three Rivers controlled the majority of the second half, Northwest Florida tied the score in the final five minutes.
Then another big-time players for the Raiders, Nick Niemczyk, snapped out of his funk and score seven unanswered points to snatch control of the game. Niemczyk clinched the win when he stepped in front of a pass and was fouled on his layup. He made the free throw and Three Rivers led 74-67 with two minutes remaining.
"I had a couple of good looks in the first half and didn't knock them down," said Niemczyk, who finished with 12 points. "I just kept moving and driving and they finally started falling."
Northwest Florida led 38-36 at halftime, thanks in large part to its three-point shooting. Sherrard Brantley hit four three-pointers and the team was 6 of 10 from beyond the arc in the first half. Northwest Florida also won the rebounding battle 19-14.
"That's what I told them at halftime," Bess said. "We've got to stop their three-point shooters and we've got to rebound."
When Three Rivers extended its lead to 74-67, Northwest Florida started rushing shots. The lead was narrowed to four points, but Three Rivers hit 9 of 10 free throws to close the game.
Wichita State recruit Ehimen Orukpe was scoreless in 13 minutes and picked up three fouls.
Northwest Florida coach Bruce Stewart thought his team was staggered in the opening minutes of the second half, when his team was whistled for four fouls in the first minute-and-a-half.
"I thought the first four minutes of the second half turned the game around," Stewart said. "I don't think I need to say anything else about that."
THREE RIVERS: Carter 26, Mitchell 0, Walker 7, Wright 0, Niemczyk 12, Williams 3, Terry 19, Prater 6, Orukpe 0, Henry 10. Totals 20-45 25-29 83.
NW FLORIDA: Mosley 6, Brantley 17, Owens 6, Bryant 22, Crawford 15, Cooper 3, Veal 4, Robertson 0. Totals 17-33 12-17 73.
Halftime — NW Florida 38, Three Rivers 36. 3s — TR 6-12 (Carter 3, Prater 2, Niemczyk); NWF 9-19 (Brantley 4, Bryant 3, Crawford, Cooper). Rebounds — TR 31 (5-Walker, Terry); NWF 35 (Crawford 8). Total fouls — TR 19, NWF 23. Assists — TR: 11 (Walker 4), NWF: 9 (Cooper 3).
Navarro 72, East Mississippi 58
NAVARRO: Ferguson 0, Allen 3, Pressey 20, Carter 0, Beverly 0, Turpin 2, Thibodeaux 30, Harper 5, Allou 6, Denson 6. Totals 16-37 10-14 72.
EAST MISSISSIPPI: King 8, Walker 0, Bennett 7, Alexander 17, McCoy 0, Harris 5, Ware 7, Dixon 4, Thompson 10. Totals 19-42 5-9 58.
Halftime — Navarro 38, East Mississippi 35. 3s — NC 10-25 (Thibodeaux 8, Pressey 2); EM 5-18 (Alexander 3, Bennett, Ware). Rebounds — NC 43 (Allou 6); EM 37 (Ware 5). Total fouls — NC 10, EM 17. Assists — NC: 10 (Carter 4), EM: 9 (Alexander 4).
Monroe 66, SE Iowa 59
SE IOWA: Ruple 5, Simmons 0, Baker 15, Habeeb 4, Arnold 21, Leggett 0, Gulley 0, Lee 7, Mafra 7. Totals 18-39 8-11 59.
MONROE: Matthews 3, Henriquez 14, Scotland 0, Lindsay 6, Harris 4, Dezouvre 12, Nared 15, Lobban 0, Bandoumel 12. Totals 20-45 17-23 66.
Halftime — SE Iowa 36, Monroe 32. 3 pt. shooting — SE Iowa 5-19 (Baker 2, Arnold 2, Lee); Monroe 3-10 (Nared 2, Henriquez). Rebounds — SE Iowa 29 (Baker 8); Monroe 47 (Nared 11). Total fouls — SE Iowa 23, Monroe . Assists — SE Iowa: 16 (Simmons 4), Monroe: 12 (Lindsay 4).
Walters 93, Connors St. 84
WALTERS: Upton 15, Payne 6, Hood 0, Newbell 0, Sturdivant 10, Smith 12, Flynn 17, Crisp 11, Zabowski 0, Malone 13, Wells 7, Holleman 2. Totals 27-58 24-37 93.
CONNORS STATE: Rutledge 18, Wilford 0, Jones 12, Brown 10, Garner 6, C. Washington 26, J. Washington 10, Worthy 0, Maclin 7. Totals 29-56 23-35 84.
Halftime — Walters 41, Connors State 39. 3s — WC 5-15 (Upton 2, Crisp 2, Flynn); CS 1-11 (Jones). Rebounds — WC 45 (Sturdivant 10); CS 58 (C. Washington 14). Total fouls — WC 25, CS 24. Assists — WC: 7 (Payne 3), CS: 15 (Brown 8).
Howard 73, SE Illinois 61
HOWARD: Austin 18, Sundufu 0, Menter 0, Obasi 4, O'Garro 0, Watkins 16, Crowder 14, McGee 11, Emory 8, Bright 2. Totals 24-41 16-27 73.
SE ILLINOIS: Seck 10, Ashford 21, Brown 0, Hickman 2, McClure 11, Long 4, Jackson 2, Kirksey 11.Totals 22-47 8-17 61
Halftime — Howard 37, SE Illinois 30. 3s — HC 3-17 (Austin 2, McGee); SEI 3-10 (Ashford 2, Long). Rebounds — HC 40 (Crowder 9); SEI 43 (Kirksey 13). Total fouls — HC 20, SEI 26. Assists — HC 7 (2-Austin, Watkins); SEI 11 (Ashford 4).
