Bison boys bounce back against Gothenburg

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School junior Tony Purvis, right with basketball, tres to elude Gothenburg's Andrew Wilson (10) while teammate Zach Volquardsen fights for position against another Swede defender during Saturday's game at the MHS gym. Volquardsen scored 11 points and Purvis 7 in a 56-50 McCook win.

The McCook Bison varsity boys basketball team bounced back from Friday's 71-57 loss at Ogallala with a convincing 56-50 win at home Saturday over Gothenburg.

The Bison used a 23-11 fourth quarter to overcome the Swedes on Saturday. Gothenburg led 39-33 at the end of the third quarter.

Three players scored in double figures for the Bison. Brian Winder and Zach Volquardsen each scored 11 points and Jeremy Young 10.

Brendan Liess added 8, Brandon Crick 7, Tony Purvis 7 and Josh Cherry 2.

Dustin Walker paced the Swedes with 13 points, followed by Seth Pelzer with 11, Jeremy Jorgensen 8 and Levi Fickensher 8.

"It was like night and day (from the Ogallala game)," said McCook boys basketball coach Steve Nicholson. "It was a great effort. That's been our signature all year long -- teams can't key on us.

"We did a good job getting our shots in the paint and getting to the free throw line. It was a great win for us. We're taking as many positive strps as we can.

"We didn't play in about half the quarters the last three or four games. Today we gave a good fourth-quarter effort. This should help us build momentum in February leading up to district (Feb. 26-March 1)."

Friday night, Liess led the Bison with 13 points. Tony Puris and Brandon Crick each scored 8, Young and Volquardsen each scored 7, Winder 6, Cherry 3 and Joel Arterburn 2.

Joel Pelster led Ogallala with 22 points, followed by Wade Palmer 15 and Matt Weber 11.

The Bison boys host Scottsbluff Thursday, Gering Friday and Alliance Saturday in the East/West Shootout.

Game times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

The McCook girls play the same teams on the road Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

McCook: Chery 2, Liess 8, Purvis 7, Crick 7, Winder 11, Young 10, Volquardsen 11.

Gothenburg: Wilson 6, Jorgensen 8, Walker 13, Pelzer 11, Fickensher 8, Blecha 2, Lawless 2.

McCook: Cherry 3, Liess 13, Purvis 8, Crick 8, Winder 6, Arterburn 2, Young 7, Volquardsen 7.

Ogallala: Haythorn 6, Weber 11, Pelster 22, Cooney 8, Reynolds 2, Platte 2, Palmer 15, Griffin 1, Brown 4.

Bison JV boys split games

The McCook junior varsity boys basketball defeated Gothenburg at home Saturday 57-28 and lost at Ogallala Friday 65-58.

Garrett Rippen paced the Bison JV in Saturday's game with 13 points.

Three players scored 6 each -- Josh Cherry, Brandon Crick and Brock Hubert. Darren Berry added 5.

Four Bison scored 4 points each -- Andy Lambing, Jeff Klug, Joel Arterburn and John Swanhorst. David Swisher and Brett Burton each scored 3. Joel Putz added 2.

Swanhorst paced the Bison in Friday's loss with 12 points. Crick and Rippen each scored 11. Klug scored 7, Cherry 5, Arterburn 3, Hubert 2, Lambing 1 and Berry 1.