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Bison drive into a house full of 'Cats, season ends
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Scottsbluff’s brightly-lit home gym suddenly felt like a dark back alley with cats running everywhere during a 23-3 flurry Wednesday evening.
The host Bearcats turned a 10-9 contest into 33-12 which basically decided their B-7 district semifinal with visiting McCook.
“Scottsbluff is a talented team that got a lot of points off transition and second chance points the first time we played them,” coach Amy Scheil explained about a Valentine’s Day meeting in McCook not even two weeks ago.
Ironically, the Bison dropped that regular-season finale by 23 points (50-27) and in Wednesday night’s rematch...
Scottsbluff scored a 23-point win, 58-35.
The Bison finale doesn’t change how coach Amy Scheil thought about a season that went beyond its 8-15 record.
“This season has been a true delight to work with our team and I’m really pleased with the girls improvement and their dedication,” she said this week. “Our seniors have lead this team well by example and have really showed our underclassmen how to be leaders.”
Senior Brecken Gale hit the last two shots of her Bison basketball career while senior Saraie Barber joined sophomore sister Christelle in adding five Bison points.
Walgren added seven points, including one early cut through the ’Cats to a driving basket after catching an in-bounds pass.
Mere moments later, sophomore starter Karagynn Brown unleashed a three which glanced off the front rim, hit that backboard and dropped perfectly through to make it 10-9.
McCook promptly moved into position for its first lead — but Ava Reed’s steal and layup beat that first quarter buzzer instead.
Suddenly, the Bearcats seemed to awake as they scratched out those next 10 points for a 22-9 advantage.
Junior Cali Crawford answered with three as she arched in a baseline jumper while being fouled, then added the free throw.
Sadly, it did not stop Scottsbluff from an 11-0 run to top its previous 10-0 cat attack.
When Walgren swished her long-distance trifecta, the Bison were still trailing 33-15.
McCook’s first four points after halftime showed again the Bison really never quit.
Once again, Walgren made a super slice to the basket off Saraie Barber’s well-timed screen.
Crawford delivered another perfect pass with Walgren’s score making it 35-19.
McCook would not get closer despite Christelle Barber’s inside basket and two Crawford free throws.
The Bearcats moved their point total to double of McCook, 46-23, before surviving an even 12-12 fourth quarter.
Gale made both her shots in those final eight minutes.
Brown assisted Christelle Barber for another score as those sophomores will likely be two of McCook’s most seasoned players returning for 2026-27.
Crawford finished her team-best 14 points when she followed her own miss and put back in one more shot.
The Bison would have been traveling next cross-state to Blair for Saturday’s B-7 title game if they had knocked off those Bearcats.
Instead, Scottsbluff will host the Blair Bears on Saturday for one of those eight Class B state tournament spots.
Blair took the other B-7 semifinal from Lincoln Standing Bear, 54-33, Wednesday night at Blair.
BISON (8-15) — Cali Crawford 14 points, Jaylea Walgren 7, Karagynn Brown 5, Brecken Gale 4, Christelle Barber 4, Saraie Barber 1.
BEARCATS (16-8) — Top scorers were freshman Finnley Martin with 19 points, Ava Reed scoring 14 and Addy Bowlin 10.