Horns' early noise ignites road win

Wauneta-Palisade’s Monique Gooden (21) works at driving around a Chase County defender during their varsity basketball game in Wauneta Tuesday evening. The Longhorns proved to be difficult obstacles as they scored a big win going into Christmas.

Diane Stamm/McCook Gazette

WAUNETA, Neb. — There was no catching Chase County’s girls on Tuesday as the Longhorns bolted to a 19-2 lead and held off Wauneta-Palisade, 61-47.

The terrific triple threat of Allison Owings’ 14 points, Mallie McNair’s 13 and another 13 from Sophie Spady fueled this road victory.

They also put just enough brakes on Bronco senior Faith Simpson, who still scored a game-high 17.

“We made a couple of good runs, but could never get over the hump,” W-P coach Matt Cox explained while his Broncos slipped to 5-3. “Give Chase County for getting basket every time they needed one.”

Owings lit up the netnets for all 14 of her points before halftime.

Spady promptly scored eight points — including two trifectas — to help maintain a Longhorn double-digit lead.

Sophomore McNair then netted nine clinching fourth-quarter points.

Coach Mark Bottoms’ Chase girls are now 4-3 this season. They scored a 15-point win over McCook to start their season.

Dakota Ingold added a solid 10 points for the Broncos while Mo Gooden netted nine.

Gooden and Simpson both swiped four steals.

“We got off to a rough start offensively, but I thought we defended really well and was happy with our rebounding,” Cox said.

Reagan Skow and Michaela Dukes grabbed five rebounds each.

“I really like where we are as a team right now,” he concluded. “We just have to continue to find ways to score the basketball as the season goes along.”

W-P won’t play again until Friday, Dec. 29 at home vs. Arapahoe.

Chase County will get a good test on Wednesday, Dec. 28 against Cheyenne, Wyo., South to start the Sidney Shootout tournament.