Falcons win big, Raiders rally to set up showdown

Hitchcock County senior Jack Baker (12) works through a lot of traffic to secure the basketball during Tuesday’s Falcon Cattle Trail win over Wauneta-Palisade at the Graff Events Center. Sophomore Tekoa Hazlitt also gains inside position wearing No. 14, appropriately since the Falcons only allowed 14 points.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. —Hitchcock County’s boys were ready and focused on a 27-2 start that led to their 60-14 Cattle Trail Tournament win over Wauneta-Palisade Tuesday afternoon.

The Falcons (1-1) returned to their typically stout defense following a tough season-opening loss against Cambridge last week.

Meanwhile, they unleashed a three-headed best during those first eight minutes: seniors Adam Kisker and Jayce Hauxwell scored eight points while classmate Grady Erickson netted seven.

The Falcons really never looked back against a young Wauneta-Palisade team featuring nine players total.

Aaden Wheeler did score seven of those 14 Bronco points.

FALCONS (60) — Jayce Hauxwell 20 points, Adam Kisker 17, Grady Erickson 14, Jack Baker 5, Isaac Vrbas 2, Tekoa Hazlitt 2. Three-pointer: Baker.

BRONCOS (14) — Aaden Wheeler 7 points, Roberto Flores Lopez 3, Nathan Hiett 2, Wyatt Hilbert 2. Three-pointers: None.

Med Valley 47,

Decatur Co. 45

Was it worth the wait?

The Medicine Valley Raiders didn’t get their Cattle Trail contest tipped off quite in time Tuesday night yet coach Jason Maier’s post-game smile showed they didn’t really mind.

“I think that’s just what we do. Keep the game close and find ways to win,” he remarked about his Raiders who are now 3-0 since last year’s district title game.

The Raiders started slow mainly because 6’7” senior Tyler Ostmeyer and Decatur Community-Oberlin dominated early. They were fresh from an opening win over rival Rawlins County, Kan., last weekend.

The Red Devils (1-1) reached leads of double digits over Med Valley.

“We’ve faced him I think three years in a row (in this tournament),” Maier said. “We don’t have the height to match up, so everybody has to get in and rebound. That’s what we did in the second half.”

Plus the Raiders could respond with three seniors who all hit double figures again on Tuesday.

Mason Roblee kept Med Valley close through the first half, then senior classmates Ethan Brown and Lucas Einspahr helped lead a second-half surge.

“We just kind of work on wearing teams down, Maier concluded while looking like he was also ready for a good rest moments after Med Valley batted away one final Devil pass intended for Ostmeyer.

Decatur was unable to launch a potential tying or game-winning shot.

The Raiders now get ready to face Hitchcock County in Friday’s Cattle Trail semifinals at Graff Events Center.

Med Valley made the title game last year before falling against Dundy County-Stratton.

RAIDERS (47) — Ethan Brown 15 points, Mason Roblee 14, Lucas Einspahr 11, Payton Newcomb 4, Alex Einspahr 3. Three-pointers: L. Einspahr, Brown, A. Einspahr.

RED DEVILS (45) — Tyler Ostmeyer 14 points, Gage Williby 12, Brady Gehring 5, Brycen Ketterl 7, Mitchell Wasson 4, Koen Oien 3. Three-pointers: Ketterl, Williby, Oien.