Bison boys' record-setting night has Olympian feeling

EXINGTON, Neb. — Pop! The popcorn had to taste really good as mom, dad and all Bison fans watched Bryson Gullion pop 12 three-pointers for another new McCook High record Tuesday night.

And with Winter Olympics just around the corner, Gullion knew it was “curling” around teammate’s perfectly-timed screens that set up more beautiful history in this 86-47 victory at Lexington.

“I don’t know how many flare screens (senior) Trey Tiller set for me. Everyone else on the floor was getting me open,” Gullion told KICX Radio voice Rich Barnett following McCook’s third consecutive win for an 11-3 record. “It (the basket) felt like I was seeing an Olympic-sized pool. I felt everything was going in as soon as I released it.”

Several triples from this Legion baseball player were also perfectly-timed. His second caught Lexington at 21-21 after the Minutemen stunningly went on an early 18-3 run to lead 21-15.

Only seconds later, B.G.’s third “threeee!” put McCook ahead to stay 24-23.

Trifecta number four formed a double-digit lead of 33-23.

Gullion soon stepped outside to draw the defender away before Graham fired a pass INSIDE to cutting junior Kooper Rakes.

Rakes’ basket power lifted McCook into a 42-27 halftime lead and finished an even better 27-6 Bison surge.

Lexington (2-13 record) had brought plans to repeat the shocking upset of 2024. The Minutemen owned two wins entering that contest before beating McCook, 49-35.

Gullion’s next two Olympian shots made it 48-29 while confirming Lex would need more than 50 points to repeat that victory.

Meanwhile, Graham was racing to his season-best 20 points.

It was Graham’s nine first-quarter points that made sure the Bison were not sleepwalking through this 12th road game in 14 contests.

“Transition is a big part of our game. When we get out and run, it’s tough to stop us,” Gullion observed. “And it seemed like Brody was leaking out the best (to start fast that started the fire, I guess.”

Junior point guard Tripp Raile also supplied some gasoline with 17 points — another cool number because McCook hit 17 threes as a team.

“That puts us among the top 10 all-time for a game,” Gullion said.

Raile’s own three-wheeler crawled over the rim and through for a 55-31 Bison advantage.

The third quarter was Gullion’s best because when drained his 10th three pointer, McCook had a 70-38 lead.

Remember, 10 was his first school record as a freshman when McCook won one memorable Southwest Conference tournament consolation game in overtime vs. Holdrege.

Gullion broke that mark with 11 during last year’s Nebraska City Holiday Tournament.

After classmate Oliver Corbett scored his one basket inside Tuesday night, Gullion took a handoff from Ollie — darted left then stepped back to drill his record-tying No. 11.

McCook now led 75-40 and the wonderful “running clock” signaling a 35-point margin came into play.

The historic No. 12 capped Gullion’s 36-point performance.

“I think this one was better,” he concluded about the third record-breaking effort.

McCook moved on to victory with Rakes adding six points, Tiller three, Corbett two and sophomore Mason West two points.

“We started really slow, but was nice to see our guys get it figured out in the second quarter,” coach Joe Imus said. “We have shot well the last two games which is great to see.”

The Bison move on to play at North Platte Friday night before Holdrege arrives for a 5 p.m. game on Saturday before final “Spirit Week” festivities.

Both the N.P. Bulldogs (3-11 record) and Dusters (5-9) could make their seasons a lot better with wins over McCook.

“I guess if McCook has a rival, it’s North Platte. And Holdrege has been as well,” Gullion said. “Those two teams are going to come in thinking they can win.”

Would 13 threes be something good to think about or — even better — 87 points as a team?

“Absolutely,” Gullion concluded in his KICX Radio interview.