Bison break halftime deadlock, down Gering

McCOOK, Neb. — The dazzling girls-boys dance show was a perfect preview of what those Bison needed after halftime Thursday evening:

Try some different hair colors?

Of course not..

Work together and pick up the tempo!

The Class B No. 9 Bison did just that, scoring 24 third-quarter points while breaking a 27-27 halftime deadlock.

“That’s what we wanted to do in the firsthalf, but we didn’t finish some shots,” coach Joe Imus said. “We did a better job of that in the second half.”

Juniors Lucas Gomez-Wilson and Jacob Gomez-Wilson both “added some speed” on fast-break baskets, Imus confirmed.

Junior Evan Humphrey showed Gering how smooth three-pointers are really shot.

The Bulldogs (9-10) made some funky long-range shots whether their feet often not set.

Yet Humphrey stood back a few feet behind the arc and buried one of those pivotal third-quarter threes.

However, this was “Seniors Night” at McCook High and some cool seniors played key roles Thursday night.

Senior Cam Werkmeister stepped in to score six big points. He also stepped out to block at least one Bulldog shot as McCook’s lead reached double figures.

Senior Josh Hegwood hit a terrific first-half triple while also mixing in some of his signature “charging” calls. Not Hegwood charging — but opponents running over him while being whistled for violations.

Yet maybe the best “senior moment” that any fat sports writer could recall involved senior Mitchel Cole putting in a shot off the glass.

Classmate Brendan Gillen found him along the baseline with a pinpoint pass.

Teammates celebrated this moment while Imus fondly mentioned all those seniors who’ve worked through his three years at MHS.

“It’s definitely paying off,” the coach concluded.

McCook raised its record to 17-5 but a huge game with Class B No. 3 Scottsbluff awaits tonight.

“We’re going to have to play a lot better,” he concluded.

BOYS

McCOOK (68) — Evan Humphrey 17 points, Josh Hegwood 12, Jacob Gomez-Wilson 8, Adam Dugger 8, Cole Cappel 7, Cam Werkmeister 6, Brendan Gillen 6, Mitchel Cole 2, Lucas Gomez-Wilson 2. Three-pointers: Humphrey 4, Hegwood.

GERING (56) — Uriah Ybarra’s 24 points paced the 9-10 Gering Bulldogs.