Bison girls turn it up for OT win

McCook boys

down Panthers

PHIILIPSBURG, Kan. -- The McCook High School varsity girls basketball team played its best game of the season Thursday night in beating Phillipsburg 73-66 in overtime.

The McCook boys put the finishing touches on a good night by beating the Panther boys 67-35.

The Bison JV boys won 66-15 but the Bison JV girls lost 31-28.

The McCook varsity girls outscored Phillipsburg 12-5 in overtime and handed the Panthers their first loss in six games. McCook improved to 3-5 and have won two games in a row.

Melissa Lyster fired in 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Bison. Joanna Bryant added 16 points and had several steals, including two key steals in the final minute of overtime.

Kelsee Meissner added 10 points, Lindsey Hazlitt 9, Tara Powell 5, Kali Lyons 4, Ashley Palic 3, Sydney Jumps 3 and Austin Wilson 2.

Melanie Bilby led the Panthers with 25 points. Lindsay Dusin added 13, Jordan Redinger 12 and Shelbie Robertson 7.

McCook scored 26 points in the first quarter and had 42 by halftime. The score was 61-61 at the end of regulation.

McCook made 10-of-11 free throws in the first half, but did not shoot another foul shot until the overtime period. The Bison made 4-of-11 free throws in the extra frame.

"Wow -- what a great game by these kids," said McCook girls coach Barry Schaeffer. "I am so proud of how they hung together and played through to the end. There were so many big shots and defensive plays by many different people.

"The girls did an excellent job of executing on the offensive end and getting stops defensively. When we went into overtime, we did an excellent job of putting pressure on the ball, rebounding the ball and not letting them have extra opportunities. On offense, we did an outstanding job of executing and getting the shot we wanted or going to the line and hitting some crucial free throws to seal the victory."

McCook boys 67,

Phillipsburg 35

The McCook boys improved to 3-4 and dropped Phillipsburg to 3-2.

Phillipsburg played without 6-foot-1 junior guard Dylan Frantz, who suffered a sprained ankle in the Panthers' 49-31 loss to Norton on Dec. 14. He averages 26 points a game.

The Bison boys jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first quarter and led 38-19 at halftime.

By the end of the third quarter, the score was 55-25.

Junior Matt Berry led McCook with 17 points. He also had 9 steals and 3 assists.

Eric Rippen scored 8 points, Cory Gaston 7, Chance Unger 7, Seth Schaeffer 6, Aaron Ruppert 6, Ryan Hardin 4, Connor Larson 4 and Zach Wieser 2.

Ruppert grabbed 6 rebounds, Schaeffer 5, Gaston 5 and Tyrone Sellers 4. Gaston had 2 assists. Rippen added 2 steals.

Tanner Thompson led the Panthers with 10 points. Klint Jarvis and Chance Keiswetter each scored 7 and Greg Rummel 6.

"Our kids came out and were determined," said McCook boys coach Tim Garcia.

"We hit some nice perimeter shots. They tried to take us out of our rhythm. Our skids stepped up."

McCook JV boys 66,

Phillipsburg 15

The McCook JV boys jumped out to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter and led 41-5 at halftime.

Mark Nichols paced the Bison JV boys with 16 points and Austin Larson fired in 15.

Dylan Parde added 10, Connor Larson 8, Dustin Parde 6, Ethan Hardin 4, Aaron Ruppert 3, Ryan Hardin 2 and Tye Smith 2.

Nichols grabbed 9 rebounds, Dylan Parde 5, Dustin Parde 5, Ruppert 5, Austin Larson 4and Ryan Hardin 4.

Mike Grabowski had 8 assists and Dylan Parde 3. Ryan Hardin had 4 steals, Ethan Hardin 3 and Grabowski 3.

"It was a great defensive effort," said McCook JV boys coach Jeremy Yilk.

Phillipsburg JV girls 31,

McCook 28

Phillipsburg led at halftime 16-12.

Morgan Chitwood led the McCook JV girls in scoring with 8 points.

Kelsey Pohl added 6, Audrie Krepcik 4, Adrian Lambing 3, Ashley Palic 2, Sydney Jumps 2 and Kali Lyons 1.

Three players scored 6 points each for the Panthers.

"The kids played hard and gave themselves a chance to win at the end of the game," said McCook JV girls coach Robin Heinrichs. "It is a tough situation and atmosphere. We need to execute better on the offensive end and play a more physical game."

GNAC tournament -- The McCook boys and girls host the Greater Nebraska Activity Conference Tournament next Thursday (Dec. 27-29) at the MHS gymnasium and the McCook Junior High School gymnasium.

The Bison girls are the No. 8 seed and will play No. 1 seed North Platte at 2 p.m. in the first round Thursday at the MHS gym.

North Platte defeated the McCook girls 49-30 on Dec. 14.

"We got a favorable draw because it is an opponent we know," Schaeffer said. "We will not have to try to get information about them, because we have already played them.

"The same is true for them. We will not be able to practice due to the moratorium but neither will they.

"We will need to correct our mistakes from the last time to have a chance at a win. We are playing with a lot of confidence right now and that will help in this game."

The Bison boys are the No. 7 seed and will play No. 2 seed Kearney at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the MHS gym.