Bison boys, girls clipped by Eagles

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School junior Mark Nichols (32), left, shoots over the defense of Colby's Levi Schlick during Tuesday night's game at the MHS gym. Nichols scored 9 points. Colby won the game 65-62.

The McCook High School varsity boys and girls basketball teams lost close games to Colby Tuesday night at the MHS gymnasium.

The McCook boys lost a hard-fought battle 65-62 and the Bison girls fell 41-35.

Connor Larson led the Bison with 22 points, including 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School senior Hanah Swanhorst (34) drives past Colby's Katherine Klaus (11) to the basket during Tuesday night's varsity girls game at the MHS gymnasium. Colby won 41-35. Swanhorst scored 2 points. Klaus led Colby with 11.

Senior Zach Wieser sparked the Bison by scoring all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Hardin and Mark Nichols each scored 9 points. Matt Berry and Seth Schaeffer each scored 4 points.

Wieser pulled down 5 rebounds. Berry and Hardin each had 3 steals and Larson 2.

Levi Schlick led Colby with 16 points. Cade Carter and Stephen Dinkel each scored 15, Brent Arnberger 10 and Corey Sager 6.

The score was tied 9-9 at the end of the first quarter and Colby led 25-23 at halftime and 43-40 at the end of the third period. Both teams scored 22 points in the final frame.

"It was a great game," said McCook boys basketball coach Tim Garcia. "We knew it would be a great game. There were a lot of positives even in a loss. Defensively we broke down. If we play Colby again (next week in the Colby Orange and Black Classic), we're going to have to block out better.

"I'm proud of the way the kids played. I couldn't ask for a better effort. I can't say a bad word about the way the kids played the game."

McCook dropped to 7-6 and Colby improved to 5-3.

McCook hosts North Platte at 7:45 p.m. Friday and competes in the Colby Orange and Black Classic Jan. 22-24.

Varsity boys

Colby: Cade Carter 15, Stephens 1, Haas 2, Stephen Dinkel 15, Sager 6, Levi Schlick 16.

McCook: Berry 4, R. Hardin 9, Zach Wieser 14, Connor Larson 22, Nichols 9, Schaeffer 4.

Colby varsity girls 41,

McCook 35

The Colby girls jumped out to 16-13 lead in the first quarter and led at halftime 27-20 and 33-27 after three quarters.

Joanna Bryant led the McCook girls with 15 points and Sydney Jumps added 12. Tara Powell scored 4, Hanah Swanhorst 2 and Brianna Watkins 2.

Katherine Kaus led the Eagles with 11 points. Shelby Terrell and Taylor Young each scored 8. Kayla Hockersmith and Katrina Kaus each scored 5 and Kelsey Shields 4.

"We were not able to play with the intensity I would have liked us to play with but with this being our fourth game in seven days, fatigue plays a big part of how intense we can play," said McCook girls coach Barry Schaeffer. "We did play pretty well over all with the exception of being able to get our offense going.

"Joanna and Sydney were both able to post a double-double for the night. Joanna led us in scoring with 17 and also posted 10 steals, which ties a school record for steals in a game. Sydney also had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. She has really been rebounding well the past few games."

Watkins added 6 rebounds and Swanhorst as McCook outboarded the Eagles 27-25. Powell had 2 assists and 2 steals. Bryant had 1 assist. Swanhorst had 1 steal. Jumps blocked 1 shot.

"The girls as a team gave a great effort but we just could not maintain our scoring for long enough to be able to get ahead late in the game," Schaeffer said. "Credit Colby for a good game and being aggressive offensively. It allowed them to maintain their lead."

The McCook girls dropped to 3-12 and Colby improved to 5-3.

The McCook girls play at Hastings Friday night. Tip-off is 7:45 p.m.

The Bison girls compete in the Colby Orange and Black Classic Jan. 20-22.

Varsity girls

McCook: Joanna Bryant 15, Sydney Jumps 12, Powell 4, Swanhorst 2, Watkins 2.

Colby: Hockersmith 5, Terrell 8, Shields 4, Katrina Kaus 5, Katherine Kaus 11, Young 8.

McCook JV boys 43,

Colby 32

The McCook junior varsity boys basketball team handed Colby a 43-32 loss Tuesday night and improved its record to 6-1.

The Bison outscored the Eagles 10-0 in the third quarter and increased their lead to 33-19.

Mark Nichols led McCook with 11 points. Tye Smith fired in three 3-pointers and scored 9 points.

Dustin Parde added 8, Drew Shields 5, Ethan Hardin 4, Dylan Parde 4 and Ryan Powell 2.

Dustin Parde pulled down 9 rebounds, Dylan Parde 7, Nichols 6 and Shields 4. Hardin had 3 steals. Dustin Parde blocked 1 shot.

Ryley Haas led the Eagles with 10 points.

JV boys

McCook: E. Hardin 4, Smith 9, Mark Nichols 11, Powell 2, Dylan Parde 4, Shields 5, Dustin Parde 8.

Colby: Arnberger 4, McKee 4, Ryley Haas 10, Wagoner 6, Rogers 4, B. Rasmussen 2, Slavens 2.

McCook JV girls 41,

Colby 35

The McCook High School junior varsity girls basketball team fought off Colby for a 41-35 win Tuesday night at home.

The Bison withstood an 18-8 run by the Eagles in the fourth quarter.

Adrian Lambing led the Bison with 8 points. Gretchen Sehnert and Emilyne Nichols each scored 7, Megan Carfield 6, Jessa Sughroue 4, Bonnie Dominguez 3, Morgan Schaeffer 2, Kelsey O'Dea 2 and Aubrie Riemann 2.

McCook and Colby each had 16 rebounds. Sehnert grabbed 5 boards and Nichols 3. Sehnert had 3 steals and Lambing 2.

Emilea Finley led the Eagles with 14 points.

"The JV kids came out and played with a lot of intensity to start the game and were able to build a lead through the first three quarters," Schaeffer said.

"Fatigue began to set in and they had to hold off a rally by the Colby team, they were able to do that and come away with a win. This was a fine team effort."

McCook: Carfield 6, Sehnert 7, Lambing 8, Schaeffer 2, O'Dea 2, Dominguez 3, Sughroue 4, Nichols 7, Riemann 2.

Colby: Martin 6, Shields 5, Mengel 2, Bell 4, Reitcheck 1, Emilea Finley 14, Taylor 1, Juenemann 2.

Colby freshman boys 38,

McCook 37

The McCook High School freshman boys basketball team lost a tough 38-37 decision to Colby Tuesday night at home.

Kyle Gaston led the Bison with 13 points. Matt Chitwood added 8. Justin Terry and Will Burkert each scored 4. Tyson Karr and Joel Baker each scored 3. Gabe Ware added 2.

McCook: Matt Chitwood 8, Tyson Karr 3, Joel Baker 3, Gabe Ware 2, Justin Terry 4, Will Burkert 4, Kyle Gaston 13.

Colby: Not available.

Colby freshman girls 26,

McCook 10

The McCook High School freshman girls basketball team lost to Colby 26-10 Tuesday night at home.

McCook held Colby in check through the first half, going into the break down 9-6, but Colby posted a strong second half to put the game out of reach.

McCook was led in scoring by Rachel Bradley with 4 points. Amanda Brush, Sierra Ortiz and Alex Witt each added 2.

KathrAnn Sides and Ortiz each had 4 rebounds and Bradley 3.

"Defensively the girls played well," said McCook freshman girls basketball coach Jon Graff."We ran the press, got steals and forced some bad shots.

"The one place we really struggled defensively and offensively was rebounding. We have to do a better job of getting the ball.

"Offensively we struggled all game. The girls got great looks at the basket and took good shots, but we rushed too much and they didn't fall."