Bison boys finally win a close one

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

McCook girls give

unbeaten Colby

squad a battle

COLBY, Kan. -- Cory Gaston hit a 15-foot jump shot with 7 seconds left in the game to give the McCook High School boys basketball team a 66-64 victory over the Colby Eagles Tuesday night at the Colby Community Center.

McCook avenged a 50-48 loss to Colby in the fifth-place game of the Goodland Topside Tip-off Classic Dec. 8.

It was also the first win for the Bison this season in games decided by 10 points or less. McCook is 6-7 overall and the seven losses are by a combined 24 points.

The Colby boys dropped to 6-3.

Four Bison boys scored in double figures, led by Gaston with 19 points. He scored 7 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner.

Eric Rippen scored 14 points, Zach Wieser 12 and Matt Berry 11. Berry and Rippen each hit three 3-pointers.

Chance Unger and Seth Schaeffer each scored 4 points and Connor Larson 2.

Berry had 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Rippen had 5 assists. McCook committed just 10 turnovers and made 5-of-10 free throws.

McCook led 25-11 after one quarter and 41-31 at halftime.

"We focused on winning each quarter individually," said McCook boys coach Tim Garcia. "To do this, we set goals of two turnovers, three fouls and five consecutive defensive stops.

"We did a great job of winning three quarters, but in the second quarter we committed five turnovers. Winning quarters 1,2 and 4 allowed us to win the game.

"We had four players in double figures, which is huge for us. When we play with the poise and confidence we displayed, we will be a tough team to beat.

"Defensively we have some work to do. We gave up too many points in the paint. This will be our focus over the next couple weeks.

"This is a great win for our boys. I am very proud of them and it feels good to see them be successful in a close game. They work so hard and deserve to win."

Steven Dinkel led the Colby Eagles with 29 points.

Ethan Stover added 11. Levi Schlick contributed 8, Cory Sager and Chaz Winger 6.

McCook will play at North Platte Friday and will return to Colby to compete in the Orange and Classic Jan. 17-19.

The Bison play Wichita South at 4:45 p.m. in the first round on Jan. 17.

McCook 25 16 13 12 -- 66
Colby 16 15 19 14 -- 64

McCook: Matt Berry 11, Cory Gaston 19, Eric Rippen 14, Zach Wieser 12, C.Larson 2, Unger 4, Schaeffer 4.

Colby: Stephens 4, Ethan Stover 11, Winger 6, Steven Dinkel 29, Sager 6, Schlick 8.

Colby girls 65, McCook 51

The McCook varsity girls, now 5-9, lost to Colby 65-51 Tuesday night.

The Colby girls improved to 9-0 and are ranked No. 2 in Kansas Class 4A by the Wichita Eagle.

McCook led Colby 16-7 in the first quarter and 28-27 at halftime.

However, Colby outscored McCook 23-12 in the third quarter and 15-11 in the fourth quarter.

Austin Wilson led McCook with 14 points and Melissa Lyster tallied 11. Lindsey Hazlitt scored 9, Kelsee Meissner 9, Joanna Bryant 4, Brianna Watkins 2 and Sydney Jumps 2.

Tara Powell, Hanah Swanhorst and Kali Lyons played but did not score.

Hazlitt and Meissner each grabbed 5 rebounds. Bryant had 3 assists and Meissner 2. Hazlitt had 4 steals and Meissner 3.

April Gee led Colby with 22 points. Lissa Mazanec scored 18, Tasha Wagoner 9, Auberette Stephens 8 and Taylor Young 8.

Gee grabbed 14 rebounds, Mazanec 9 and Young 8. Stepehens and Mazanec each had 4 steals and Young 3. Wagoner had 6 assists and Stephens 5.

Colby outrebounded McCook 37-18.

"The girls played a great game against a very quality opponent," said McCook girls coach Barry Schaeffer.

"We executed very well in the first half and did a great job of taking care of the ball. The girls executed offensively and defensively, which allowed us to get an early lead in the game.

"In the second half, Colby's height and length started to gain an advantage, which allowed them to gain the lead.

"Down the stretch, we gave up some rebounds that allowed them to extend the lead and kept us from closing the gap.

"The girls should not be ashamed of the outcome. They played hard and played well as a team. We can gain a lot of confidence from this game."

McCook will host Hastings Friday and will play a makeup game Saturday at Grand Island Northwest.

The Bison girls will return to Colby to compete in the Orange and Black Classic Jan. 17-19.

The Bison play Wichita South at 3 p.m. in the first round on Jan. 17.

Colby 7 20 23 15 -- 65
McCook 16 12 12 11 -- 51

McCook: Austin Wilson 14, Melissa Lyster 11, Hazlitt 9, Meissner 9, Bryant 4, Watkins 2, Jumps 2.

Colby: April Gee 22, Lissa Mazanec 18, Wagoner 9, Stephens 8, Young 8.

McCook boys JV 58,

Colby 42

Ryan Hardin scored 18 points and Connor Larson 17 as the McCook junior varsity defeated Colby 58-42 Tuesday night at Colby.

Austin Larson and Mike Grabowski each scored 8 points.

Mark Nichols scored 2, Dylan Parde 2, Dustin Parde 2 and Tyrone Sellers 1.

Austin Larson grabbed 6 rebounds and Dustin Parde 4. Austin Larson had 3 assists and 3 steals.

Brent Arnberger led Colby with 15 points. Thomas Weiland scored 12.

Colby girls JV 46,

McCook 33

The Colby girls JV outscored McCook 29-12 in the second half and handed the Bison a 46-33 loss Tuesday night at Colby.

Brianna Watkins led the Bison with 10 points.

Hanah Swanhorst added 8, Morgan Chitwood 6, Audrie Krepcik 4, Kelsey O'Dea 3 and Kelsey Pohl 2.

Krepcik and Kali Lyons each grabbed 6 rebounds, Swanhorst 5 and Chitwood 4. Lyons had 3 assists and Watkins 2. Five players each had 2 steals.

McCook outrebounded Colby 27-22.

McCook freshman girls 52, Colby 40

The McCook freshman girls basketball team improved its record to 3-2 Tuesday night in Colby with a 52-40 win over Colby.

The Bison played a great offensive game with four girls in double figures.

Gretchen Sehnert led the Bison in scoring with 12 points. Meagan Carfield, Morgan Shaeffer and Jessa Sughroue each scored 10.

Sehnert had 5 steals and Carfield 4.

"The girls ran their offense well, pushed the tempo and attacked the basket," said McCook freshman girls coach Jon Graff.

"Defensively, the girls did a great job of disrupting Colby offense with our press. Coming off a disappointing loss against Lexington, the girls stepped up to the challenge and improved their game."

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