Tag team: Bison take turns breaking Bow
BROKEN BOW, Neb. — A busload of trouble really started to roll once it arrived at Broken Bow Tuesday night.
The McCook Bison celebrated their journey by playing a great game of tag with basketballs.
You’re it! Junior Mackenzie Smith scores on a putback.
No, you’re it! Freshman Liviya Wier swipes the ball from Bow and finds seniorJaden Bryant with a perfect bounce pass.
Now you’re it! Senior Bailey Honn steps up and drills a jumper just inside the three-point line.
It’s my turn! Senior Brantleigh Morgan buries two three-pointers while the Bison dominate this contest.
When it’s finally done, six different Bison had scored six points or more during a 55-40 road win over those Indians.
“It was a total team effort,” coach Amy Scheil confirmed about a crucial game that could help McCook avoid another long trip to Bow for the Southwest Conference tournament later this month.
“I think we jumped above them in the standings,” Scheil declared. “We want a home game.”
The Bison (6-8 record) made themselves right at home as all five starters scored in a 16-4 first quarter.
McCook brought plenty of “money” on Smith’s bank shot off an assist from Bryant.
The Bison kept cashing in throughout a 25-13 first half — even though more than one starter drew her third foul.
It didn’t matter with Morgan bringing eight points off the bench to join Bryant (team-high 12 points), Wier (nine), Honn (eight), Smith (eight), senior Erika Fisher (six) in a super balanced Bison attack.
Senior Emily Arp was among other Bison who buried huge second-half baskets.
Broken Bow (4-8) briefly closed within single digits at 30-21 and 38-29.
However, Honn and Morgan both promptly buried shots to keep the Indians from really rallying.
Bryant also delivered a driving three-point play to create the Bison’s largest advantage of 15.
“We also did a good job defensively, helping out and hedging,” Scheil explained. “We rebounded pretty well. There were a couple of times when they (Bow) got four or five shots in a row.”
“We just said calm down and our players did,” she added. “It was a good win. It certainly made the trip back home better.”
The Bison own a respectable 2-2 road record this season, 2-2 at home but just 2-4 on neutral floors (GNAC, Topside Tipoff tourneys).
They’ve returned home to get ready for the Hastings Tigers’ visit on Friday night. Hastings is 6-4 overall following a 37-33 win over Aurora.