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Bison do a U-turn and smash Ainsworth upset plans
McCOOK, Neb. — Something says the movie Fast and Furious 10 will have nothing on McCook’s 10th basketball win Tuesday in Southwest Conference tournament action.
The Bison (10-4 record) trailed by more than 10 when Ainsworth road rasher Teagan McNally hit yet another three-wheeling kill shot.
Those visiting Bulldogs now led 53-39 with only seconds remaining until the final quarter.
Suddenly, senior Evan Humphrey swished one of his seven triples with a cool reaction that said “10-4, good buddies.”
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs could only wonder which truck would hit them next during a 24-8 final quarter.
Look left and there was freshman Bryson Gullion making his own three-point tire tracks.
Check to your right where junior Mitchel Cole was firing on all cylinders with a perfect assist to Jacob Gomez-Ferrari-Wilson.
JGW’s quick driving cut to the hoop brought McCook within 57-52.
Gullion delivered an equally perfect assist to Cole moments later — just before Jacob’s perfectly-timed inbounds pass to Lucas Gomez-Corvette Wilson made it 57-56.
This rally had to set some speed records because nearly half the final quarter still remained.
Yet McCook’s real Mustang had Bulldogs likely asking “where in the name of Vin Diesel did he come from?”
Still leading 58-56, Ainsworth picked the Bison clean and was speeding to a huge “breathing room” layup.
Suddenly without much traffic noise, Humphrey leaped and basically took away those two points in mid-air.
The Bison leader zoomed downcourt before most Bulldogs react, fed Cole with some super motor oil and this crazy contest was tied 58-58.
No problem. McNally sank one more dagger to finish his 32-point effort.
However, 61 was exactly all Ainsworth would score on this trip.
Humphrey barely needed a few ticks to launch a long game-tying shot — swish! and it was 61-61.
Maybe the Bulldogs (4-9) simply ran out of gas.
They sputtered away their next, and Jacob Ferrari promptly left all their defenders in that proverbial “dust”.
His lightning-bolt layup felt like Michael Fox taking off in the original Back to the Future.
McCook led 63-61 as a double team from Lucas and Cole forced an Ainsworth turnover.
The Bulldogs’ defensive pressure literally stalled from there.
McCook Bison darted about, running down clock while that visiting coach shouted “what are you doing!!”
Only 16.5 seconds remained until Ainsworth fouled the one Bison nobody should:
Humphrey.
Sure enough, he made both free throws for a 65-61 lead and Bulldogs would need rockets to make their own comeback.
Instead, their last meaningful shot hit the side of a backboard which Bison secured.
Lucas Gomez-Wilson added another free throw and McCook fans were soon celebrating this 66-61 win.
Perhaps closer than McCook wanted, but it advances these boys into an 8 p.m. semifinal on Friday against Gothenburg at Kearney High.
If the third-seeded Bison can beat G-Burg a second time, they’ll likely face undefeated No. 1 Ogallala or perhaps Holdrege in Saturday’s SWC championship game.
Opening tip on Saturday will be 6:15 p.m.
McCook 66, Ainsworth 61
McCOOK (10-4) — Evan Humphrey 27 points, Bryson Gullion 14, Jacob Gomez-Wilson 12, Mitchel Cole 10, Lucas Gomez-Wilson 3. Three-pointers: Humphrey 7, Gullion 3, J. Gomez-Wilson 1. Rebound leaders: Cole 10, Humphrey 5. Assists: J. Gomez-Wilson 6, Fraker 3. Steals: L. Gomez-Wilson.