McCook hosting CSO All-Star hoops

McCOOK, Neb. — Top area basketball seniors have been selected for the 2017 Cambridge Community School Organization (CSO) All-Star Games on Saturday, May 26.

McCook High School has the honor of hosting these annual contests since Cambridge’s gym floor will be getting refinished at that time, CHS activities director and girls’ basketball coach Jarrod Albers explained.

The girls’ game will tip at 6 p.m. with Albers joining Southern Valley’s Jeff Ellis to coach East All-Stats.

Both the Trojans and Eagles will be represented after strong 2016-17 athletic years.

Senior Alea Shaner will play one more time for Cambridge fans after scoring more than 1,000 points in her prep career. She helped the Trojans reach two consecutive state basketball tourneys as they won 20 games last season.

Southern Valley seniors Savana Quinn and Tia Norman were both part of a state-qualifying Eagle volleyball team. They beat the Trojan basketball team in December en route to another winning campaign.

Southwest’s Isabella Ryan and Arapahoe’s Brielle Weverka are two other Gazette-area All-Stars. Other East selections are Lilli Fattig from Lexington, Eustis-Farnam’s Ali Jones, Holdrege’s Jacee Pfeifer, Tessa Callahan of Bertrand and Alma’s Katelyn Harrison.

Meanwhile, the West All-Star girls will include McCook senior Faith Hansen teaming with Dundy County-Stratton stars Emily Jones and Aubrey Frederick.

The Tiger duo helped DC-S win more than 100 games while reaching four straight state basketball tourneys. Talented Chase County seniors Taylin McNair and Destiny Reinke are also part of that West All-Star team.

Other players seclected are Hitchcock County senior Aubrey Wagner, Wallace’s Maggie May, Riley Nitsch from North Platte St. Patrick’s, Sutherland’s Haeven Schuster and Hershey’s Britni Brannan.

Coaches Mark Bottom of Chase County and Sutherland’s Jason Gunderson direct the West All-Stars.

McCook senior Kyle Geisler highlights the area boys’ stars playing in that 8 p.m. All-Star Game.

Former Bison/Wauneta-Palisade sharpshooter Greg Gaston has also been picked for the West squad. He helped lead the Broncos into last season’s D-2 state tourney.

Hitchcock County top scorer Matt Rippen, Medicine Valley’s Zak Bailey and Chase County’s Ike Maxwell are other Gazette-area selections.