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Ouch! Down four at half,'Cats awake to beat Bison by 18
up the motorcycles and autos, baby, because it looks like McCook’s going back to the Panhandle in late February!
The Bison showed they could take on a Scottsbluff Bearcat challenge whereve they meet through one half Thurdsay evening.
They held Class B’s No. 3 team in power points to six points through one quarter — then just 17 going into halftime.
The Bison took a 9-6 early advantage on junior Tripp Raile’s five points along with baskets from senior Trey Tiller and sophomore Mason West — who lit up C-1 No. 1 Ogallala for a team-high 13 points last weekend.
“We competed hard. I’m very proud of our defensive effort holding Scottsbluff to a season low points in a half,” coach Joe Imus said. “And their second lowest scoring total of the season.”
“We just couldn’t seem to get our offense in sync for awhile,” Scottsbluff coach Scott Gullion confirmed. “Some of that was because of them (McCook). They were playing very physical.”
Yet while Olivia Newton-John’s “Let’s Get Physical” did not blast through McCook High’s P.A. system, fans did hear an opening sequence on AC/DC’S “Highway To Hell.”
Not a terribly wrong way to desribe the third-quarter story:
Scottsbluff 25......uhh, McCook 2.
Yeah, 25-2.
Senior Trey Tiller’s running basket made it 24-23 — only to Scottsbluff unleash 18 unanswered points and 42-23 lead through three.
Flushing that third period and the eventual 55-37 loss will be No. 1 Bison priorities before post-season.
The Bison (16-6 record) traded bumps, pushes, some uniform pulling and maybe an eye gouge to notice how the score was developing.
They regained some focus starting the fourth quarter with Raile hitting his second triple and senior Bryson Gullion also hitting a long-distance shot.
Scottsbluff (17-3) answered every shot inlcuding seniors Oliver Carpenter and George Schmall hitting threes for their only baskets all game.
“We had guys making plays when they needed,” coach Gullion said. “Yeah, it (state tourney experience) probably helped us get through. This is a tough place to play.”
Senior guard/football quarterback Nate Kelley’s 14 points only matched Raile for game-high scoring honors.
Bearcat senior Rylee Meininger added 12 points just like McCook’s Tiller.
However, those other ’Cats teamed for 29 points compared to McCook’s 11 beyond the top two.
“For the first half of the season, we were a solid offensive team,” Imus concluded. “We have to find a way to put the ball in the hoop to complement the great things we are doing on the defensive side the last few games.”
McCook can recover quickly because the Gering Bulldogs (9-10) invade for “Senior Night” at McCook High and this girls-boys varsity doubleheader.
The Bison slipped from No. 6 to a No. 7 tie with Aurora Huskies (18-4) in Class B power points (42.9545).
Winning tonight and at 21-2 Cozad next Thursday might keep McCook’s hopes alive of being a top eight team entering post-season.
The top eight teams would host Class B district finals/state-qualifying games.
Gering ranks No. 22 among 33 Class B boys basketball teams.
BISON (16-6) — Tripp Raile 14 points, Trey Tiller 12, Mason West 4, Bryson Gullion 3, Brody Graham 2, Oliver Corbett 2. Three-pointers: Raile 2, Gullion.
BEARCATS (17-3) — Nate Kelley 14 points, Rylee Meininger 12, Caleb Burda 6, Trey Clemens 6, Keon Delgado 6, Esai Sabala 5, Oliver Carpenter 3, George Schmall 3. Three-pointers: Sabala, Carpenter, Schmall.