Broncos get postseason tipped off with dramatic 'W'

Wauneta-Palisade players could celebrate after senior Peyton Cox's late shot (below) broke a 51-51 tie with Medicine Valley to start the D2-9 subdistrict tournament at Cambridge Monday night. Bottom photo shows Cheyenne Parrish battling multiple Raiders for a rebound.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — What a game to start the girls’ basketball post-season playoffs.

Medicine Valley senior Stella Heapy put 32 points through the nets, but it was Wauneta-Palisade who delivered those final most important six Monday evening.

Trailing 51-48, senior GraCee Goings stepped up to swish a tying triple as she scored 14 of her 17 points after the halftime break.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The Broncos (8-11) made one more crucial defensive stop and then senior Peyton Cox — despite hands in her face (see right) hit that decise turaround shot.

WaPa added one fre throw then celebrated two reasons for payback:

1. Medicine Valley ended the Broncos’ season with a playoff win at Wauneta last season.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

2. Those same Raiders erased a seven-point lead in 43 seconds to beaet Wauneta-Palisasde less than two weeks ago.

“I was really proud of the product we put on the floor tonight,” coach Matt Cox commented as his Broncos advance into tonight’s D2-9 semifinal against host host/No. 1-seed Cambridge. “We managed the fourth-quarter rally well aand made the difference at the end of the game.”

Cox and Goings each scored a team-best 17 points.

Yet younger Broncos like freshman Emma Acton delivered clutch late baskets.

Teammate Izabelle Stehno helped the Broncos hand an early Med Valley attack with nine points of her own.

“Plus the big thing is we didn’t make the turnovers late,” coach Cox added.

Acton’s eight rebounds were a Bronco best while Peyton Cox secured seven and Stehno six.

Goings delivered a team-high four assists and Cheyenne Parrish added two despite being injured late.

Wauneta-Palisade will now get another shot at Cambridge, who won a close game earlier this season with those Broncos.

Opening tip is set for 5:30 p.m. at Cambridge High.

The second semifnal features No. 2 Hitchcock County vs. No. 3 Wauneta-Palisade set for 7 p.m.

Watch for updates as the final takes place Thursday.

BRONCOS (54) — Peyton Cox 17 points, GraCee Goings 17 points, Izabelle Stehno 9, Emma Acton 7, McKenna Doetker 2. Three-pointers: Goings, Stehno, Acton.

RAIDERS (51) — Stella Heapy 32 points, Sienna Houghtelling 7, Remmi Stout 7, Kylie Rose 3, Haylie Gustafson 2. Three-pointers: Heapy 2, Stout 2, Rose.