Down 11, brilliant Bison girls' comeback beats Dusters

Tuesday, December 18, 2018
McCook sophomore Emma Kehler (30) powers around a North Platte defender during Friday night's varsity game.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

HOLDREGE, Neb. — McCook’s girls shook off a 19-point Duster first quarter and only allowed 19 more through the next three of a 44-38 win over Holdrege Saturday night.

“We started the game off very poorly,” coach Amy Scheil admitted about a 19-11 deficit that soon became 22-11. “We didn’t play man-to-man defense very well.”

However, Scheil was just as pleased with how her young team answered.

The Dusters fired from long distance and never stopped.

They also rarely could stop McCook’s solid teamwork that moved basketballs inside to senior post Mackenzie Smith.

Smith delivered her second strong game of the weekend, except these 18 points helped lead a great comeback win.

McCook (2-4 record) made it a break-even weekend after falling at North Platte, 55-33, Friday night.

“We handled it (defensive pressure) better, and Mackenzie can be a real force inside,” Scheil remaked in her radio interview. “She will get better all year and if (senior) Jayceea (Hanson) does that, we’ll have a deadly duo.”

Hanson has displayed sharp high-post passing skills as part of the tall Bison tandem with Smith.

Once again, she also showed shootng touch with one memorable jumper Saturday night.

The Bison saw other players contribute throughout this win.

Freshman Peyton Doucet and Addison Randel both made a great impact.

Randel netted four points to help McCook gradually take charge.

The Bison now get ready to host Broken Bow Thursday night befoer a rescheduled long road trip into Valentine on Friday.

McCook’s girls and boys will both be playing rescheduled games against the Badgers after winter weather forced a postponement Nov. 30.

Bulldog press dooms Bison

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Relentless pressure led to North Platte’s 28-8 first half and a 55-33 triumph over the visiting McCook girls Friday night.

Senior Mackenzie Smith made nine of 13 shots (69%) inside the paint, mostly after North Platte pulled back its second-half press.

Sophomore Emma Kehler added six points while continuing to be an early-season rebounding force.

Kehler’s six rebounds topped the Bison with Smith and senior Jayceea Hanson taking down five apiece.

Sophomores Shayli Wilkinson (two points), Tiara Matson (one) and Peyton Doucet (one) completed the Bison scoring attack.

The Bulldogs raised their record to 3-2 but then dropped a 46-38 contest at Norfolk Saturday evening.

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