GNAC Tournament begins Thursday

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The McCook Bison drew two of the tougher first round matchups in the 2017 Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament.

The Bison boys received the No. 8 seed and will take on top-seed Kearney at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, while the Lady Bison are seeded No. 7 in the girls' bracket and face No. 2 Norfolk at 5:30 p.m. Both McCook games will take place in the North Platte High School auxiliary gymnasium.

The McCook boys enter Thursday's contest with a 4-2 record. The Bison's last game was a 53-41 win over Holdrege on Dec. 16. A Dec. 21 road game at Broken Bow was postponed until Jan. 9 due to traveling conditions.

Kearney, the Bison's opponent, began the season as a top-5 team in the preseason Class A ratings, but have started the 2017/2018 campaign with a 4-3 record. The Bearcats' last game was a 43-40 loss to Norfolk on Dec. 22.

The Lady Bison have played .500 basketball to start the season, alternating wins and losses through their first eight games. Their most recent game was a 62-52 victory over Holdrege on Dec. 16.

The Norfolk Lady Panthers are 4-2 this season and are currently riding a four-game winning streak. Three of those wins have come against GNAC opponents (Columbus, North Platte, Kearney).

Regardless of results Thursday, the McCook boys will play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday while the Lady Bison will play at 2 p.m. that same day.

Defending Class A state champion Norfolk won last year's GNAC boys' title, while Kearney High took the GNAC girls' championship.

2017 GNAC Tournament

Dec. 28-30, 2017

North Platte, Neb.

First round

Girls bracket

2 p.m.

No. 1 Kearney vs. No. 8 Lexington (aux. gym)

No. 3 Hastings vs. No. 6 Scottsbluff (main gym)

5:30 p.m.

No. 2 Norfolk vs. No. 7 McCook (aux. gym)

No. 4 North Platte vs. No. 5 Columbus (main gym)

Boys bracket

3:45 p.m.

No. 1 Kearney vs. No. 8 McCook (aux. gym)

No. 4 Scottsbluff vs. No. 5 Hastings (main gym)

7:15 p.m.

No. 2 Norfolk vs. No. 7 Lexington (aux. gym)

No. 3 Columbus vs. No. 6 North Platte (main gym)