McCook girls finish SWC tourney with triumph

McCook senior Brolin Morgan (left) maintains control of the basketball despite reach-in pressure from Valentine senior Skyler Reagle during their Southwest Conference fifth-place game Thursday evening.

Kelly Ninas/Courtesy photo

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — An 8-0 deficit didn’t bother the McCook girls for one moment as they won by eight, 42-34, over Valentine in Thursday’s Southwest Conference fifth-place game.

Freshman Shawna Wilkinson lit up the evening with four three-pointers and 17 points total.

However, it was a total team effort which ignited McCook to its second win of this tourney after dropping the opener last week.

Coach Amy Scheil offered these comments:

“Valentine jumped out to an 8-0 lead then we fought back. I was pleased at how our girls responded and kept their heads up.

We put a lot of pressure on Valentine with our press and got some steals but the main thing our press did was get Valentine out of the rhythm of the game.

We had a lot of girls play really well for us Sierra did a great job off the bench and stepped up big for the injured Emma Kehler which did not play.

Peyton (Doucet)had an awesome game both defensively and offensively (four of five shooting from two-point range) and gave us some much needed baskets off of hustle plays.

Tiara (Matson) has been the most consistent player we have had throughout the season and this game was no different.

She rebounded well and put a lot of defensive pressure on the girls.

Livi (Wier) did a nice job controlling the game and Shawna had some great hustle plays which gave us a lot of extra possessions.

Overall the girls played hard and hustled well. It was a great team win.”

The Bison led 18-17 by halftime despite that early 8-0 deficit. They led 31-27 through three quarters and deliverd an 11-7 final clincher.

Wilkinson finished four-for-seven from beyond the triple arc for almost 60 percent.

Senior Brolin Morgan hit a trio of two-point shots (seven points total).

McCOOK (42) — Shawna Wilkinson 17 points, Peyton Doucet 8, Brolin Morgan 6, Tiar Matson 4, Liviya Wier 3, Riley Werkmeister 3, Sierra Kothschwar 1. Three-pointers: Wilkinson 4, Wier. Rebound leaders: Kotschwar 8, Wier 7, Doucet 6, Wilkinson 5. Assists: Wier 4, Morgan 3. Steals: Wier 4, Doucet 4. VALENTINE (34) — Sami Phillips’ eight points topped the 6-11 Badgers