Sharp Tiger bites doom Bison playoff hopes

McCook senior Cam Berry soars above Hastings Tigers while classmate Jordan Chauncy also moves into scoring range during the B-7 subdistrict game Monday night in Hastings.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

One McCook senior never missed a shot while the other Bison certainly didn’t tiptoe through this “jungle” of Hastings hazards Monday night.

In fact, the Bison even fired plenty of darts to start their B-7 subdistrict victory quest.

Senior Cam Berry went boom from long distance as did sophomore Cole Cappel for a quick 6-2 Bison margin.

McCook junior Ty Stevens took on two more Tigers in what turned into a three-point play. However, the No. 1 seed took charge on their home floor.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

When senior Konor Rakes attacked the Tigers inside with a perfect assist to classmate Jordan Chauncy, McCook led 8-4 over this once 16-0 powerhouse foe.

“It was McCook right out the gate,” Hastings coach Lance Creech conceded while talking to local media following the 76-46 Tiger victory.

Wait a second! Is that final score another goofy Gazette misprint?

Sorry, but no.

McCook’s great early momentum didn’t quite make it through the first quarter.

The Tigers suddenly awoke to take a 13-10 lead and — seemingly in just another blink or two — it was 27-12 for those B-7 subdistrict hosts.

An attack of 10 three-pointers was officially unleashed along with swarming, swiping defenders who often took basketballs away from Bison jungle visitors.

Forget about smelling blood. The Tigers had been seeing it recently after 16 straight wins turned into a 3-3 record during their last six contests.

“We were pitting our dudes against our dudes (in practice),” Creech explained. “There was some blood, there was some words and just some things that we needed to get back to doing.”

The result was five “dudes” all scoring 10 points or more for Creech’s team.

They were leading 40-19 despite Bison junior Ty Stevens’ terrific three-point play that ended the first half.

Cappel connected for his second “triple” starting half No. 2, but Hastings quickly hit another corner three and never really looked back.

The Tigers hit seven of 10 three-pointers during one stretch. They finished 10-for-22 overall for just under 50 percent.

“What I told the guys was I’ve probably put the reins on us too much by trying to run this play to get this guy going or that guy a touch,” Creech told the Hastings Tribune. “When you’ve got the players, you have to let them play.”

Connor Creech, coach’s son, was among the top Tiger shooters as he totaled 16 points.

Jacob Schroeder scored 17 while taller Tigers like Hagan Hildendorf powered inside to 12 points.

There was simply no stopping this inside-outside jungle firepower.

The Lexington Minutemen (13-9) will face this challenge in tonight’s B-7 title game — weather permitting.

Meanwhile, coach Joe Imus saw his first season with the Bison likely end at 12-11.

Bison seniors Berry, Chauncy, Rakes and Logan Barenberg hustled throughout their final high school basketball game.

Chauncy finished a perfect three-for-three from the field and two-of-two free throws for eight points.

Sophomore Josh Hegwood added one driving shot over Tiger defenders for another second-half highlight.

McCook trailed 54-30 at that point which proved to be as close as this contest would get after that.

McCOOK (12-11 record) — Cole Cappel 12 points, Jordan Chauncy 8, Logan Barenberg 6, Mark Arp 6, Ty Stevens 5, Cam Berry 4, Konor Rakes 2, Josh Hegwood 2. Luke Maris 1. Three-pointers: Cappel 2, Berry, Arp.

HASTINGS (20-3) — Jacob Schroeder 17 points, Connor Creech 16, Hagan Hilgendorf 12, Mike Boeve 12, Brennan Witte 10, Jarrett Synek 6, JT Cafferty 3. Three-pointers: Boeve 4, Synek 2, Witte 2, Creech, Cafferty.