Comebacks fuel McCook girls' win over 'A' No. 1 Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. — Their first duals since the prom dance had McCook High making better moves than ever against Class A Kearney on Tuesday.

The Bison didn’t need much shimmy-shake to take care of Kearney Catholic, 12-0, to start this triangular.

Sophomores Jaylee Hammond and Elizabeth McConville both won 8-0 singles matches while five other decisions were no closer than 8-3.

Junior Izzy Clause scored a pair of 8-1 victories at No. 1 singles after teaming with junior Brooklynn Gillen for that No. 3 doubles triumph.

However, it was sophomore Abby Schneider’s 9-7 win which gave fans a look at some really super moves still to come.

Trailing 7-4, Schneider even faced match point because Kearney Catholic’s Clarie Rogers took a 40-love lead.

Yet Abby not only rallied to take that game, she conquered four more in a row which clinched her 9-7 No. 5 singles comeback win.

“Great day for Bison tennis,” coach Matt Wiemers observed.

Indeed, because No. 1-ranked Bearcat fans were about to see even more that they likely could not believe.

The Bison really came out swinging in Tuesday’s second dual — especially when Kearney established seemingly “safe” leads.

Gillen — who suffered her first No. 2 singles losses all season last weekend — fell behind again at 6-1 to Kearney’s Emilee Anderson.

Gillen’s response was “let’s dance!” as she unleashed seven consecutive winners and a crazy-good 8-6 victory.

But wait!

No. 1 doubles partners Rowen Wiemers and Roslyn Wiemers were about to tap dance all over their 6-3 deficit.

One more loss didn’t stop a beautiful arrangement of five wins resulting in a 9-7 stunner over Kearney top tandem Glaire Gangwish-Sophia Heacock.

The Bison weren’t finished because No. 2 doubles Schneider and McConville were calmly shuffling around several potential party crashers.

They eventually scored a 9-8 (7-5) tie-breaker, helping clinch McCook’s 6-3 dual upset of No. 1 Kearney.

“They were in a tight match from start to finish,” coach Wiemers confirmed. “A lot of fight from our team and refusal to give up.”

“Looking to carry the momentum into the weekend and the last home matches of the season Friday and Saturday,” he concluded following the wins.

The Bison will play Scottsbluff on those courts just west of McCook High Friday afternoon. Opening serves are set for 4 p.m.

On Saturday, the home season is completed with an annual McCook Invitational.

Scottsbluff, Gering, North Platte and Ogallala are set to compete starting at 9:30 a.m.

McCook 7,

Kearney 5

SINGLES

No. 1: E. Heacock won 8-0 over Izzy Clause, MC

No. 2: Brooklynn Gillen, MC, won 8-6 over E. Anderson

No. 3: A. Sutton won 8-1 over Olivia Eschliman, MC

No. 4: Rowen Wiemers, MC, won 8-3 over S. Heacock

No. 5: Abby Schneider, MC, won 8-2 over E. Bokenkamp

No. 6: Elizabeth McConville, MC, won 8-3 over B. Henning

No. 7: Roslyn Wiemers, MC won 8-2 over C. Gangwish

No. 8: E. Larsen won 8-4 over Jaylee Hammond, MC

DOUBLES

No. 1: Row. Wiemers/Ros. Wiemers, MC, won 9-7 over Gangwish/S. Heacock

No. 2: Schneider/McConville, MC, won 9-8 (7-5) over Bokenkamp/Henning; No. 3: E. Heacock/Anderson won 8-2 over Clause/Gillen, MC; No. 4: Larsen/Sutton won 8-3 over Eschliman/Hammond, MC.