Bison boys clipped

Tyler Bieck/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School seniors Trent Lyons (12) and Willie Williams (10) confer with Bison co-head coach Steve Nicholson during a timeout at Friday night's McCook-Grand Island Northwest basketball game. GINW won 60-53.

In the waning seconds of Grand Island Northwest's 60-53 win over the McCook Bison boys basketball team on Friday night in the McCook High gym, the student section sitting behind GINW's bench began to chant "This is our house."

Playing at McCook in the 2001 season, GINW hit a game winning 3-pointer with time running out.

In district action last season McCook's Krae Dutoit nailed a buzzer beater to advance to the finals.

And on Friday night GINW, down by 8 points in the third quarter, pulled away in the final 30 seconds to a 7-point victory.

"It's always been a battle with us and the Vikings," said co-head coach Steve Nicholson.

McCook captured a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter when Willie Williams hit a 3-point shot as time expired.

The Bison continued the three point lead to halftime as they took a 28-25 advantage into the locker room.

Early in the third quarter McCook appeared to be control, but a 11-2 run by GINW allowed them to end the period with a one point lead, 43-42.

Lead changes ran amuck in the fourth quarter. Neither team led by more than two points until GINW pulled away in the final seconds.

Trent Lyons tied the game at 53 with 30 seconds remaining.

But GINW turned to their leading scorer, Seth Atkins to make the game deciding play. Atkins, who had 19 points, made a lay-up and was fouled by McCook.

"We knew what we were going to do," said Nicholson of Atkins. "We just couldn't get there fast enough to stop him."

At the free-throw line Atkins missed his foul shot, but GINW's Brandon Harrington grabbed the rebound and McCook quickly fouled Harrington.

Harrington made 1-of-2 free throws to put GINW up by three, 56-53.

But a turnover was committed by McCook before any shot could be fired.

GINW added a pair of free throws and a lay-up as time expired to give them the 60-53 victory.

Paul Putz led McCook with 14 points. Willie Williams and Derick Lorentz both added 11 points. And Trent Lyons had 11 points.

McCook played without senior starter Bobby Gaulke, who sat out because of the flu.

"We played pretty well by being short-handed without Bobby. And then we lost Kyle (Bedore) at the end and that limits the schemes we can run."

McCook fell to 13-11.

McCook will host its final regular season home game Saturday night.

The Senior Night opponent will be Cozad. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the McCook High gym.

MHS: Williams 12, Lyons 11, Liess 4, Putz 14, Lorentz 12.

GINW: Jones 11, Seyler 4, Stottenburg 9, Peters 5, Atkins 19, Harrington 12.

McCook

boys JV 59,

GINW 48

The McCook Bison boys JV squad was victorious 59-48 over Grand Island Northwest Friday night at the McCook High gym.

Nicholson was happy to see his team bounce back.

"It was a good win. Those kids battled hard all lost week and went 0-3. It was a nice job of them coming back and playing hard."

McCook was led in scoring by Tony Purvis and Zach Volquardsen with 9 points each. Jeremy Young added 8.

McCook hosts Cozad in the McCook High gym. Game time is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

MHS: Crick 6, Liess 2, Klug 2, Purvis 9, Putz 2, Winder 3, Park 2, Arterburn 6, Young 8, Ruppert 4, Volquardsen 9, Shaddock 6.

GINW: Seyler 6, Roby 15, Fierstein 3, Eynetich 6, Baird 1, Sydzyik 5, Romero 12.