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Bison boys win big at Ogallala
R.B. Headley
Gazette Sports Editor
OGALLALA, Neb. --Most complete win of the season best describes McCook's 64-34 varsity victory at Ogallala Friday evening.
The Bison featured nine players hitting shots as DJ Gross and Hunter Hays delivered a long-awaited inside punch with 17 total points.
Meanwhile, McCook defense forced 27 Ogallala turnovers including a 21-5 advantage in stealing the basketball.
The Bison (7-10 record) dominated 10-9 Ogallala team that defeated them in Southwest Conference tournament play less than two weeks ago.
"It really had nothing to do with payback," coach Jeremy Yilk said on his post-game radio interview. "It was about us getting better in a lot of different areas."
McCook's outside shooting also excelled as senior Kyle Geisler, juniors Hunter Potthoff and Clayton Stevens all hit two triples to match Ogallala's entire total.
Junior forward Zach Schlager stepped outside to hit another triple while sophomore Gabe Sehnert drilled an earlier shot from long distance.
Geisler really ignited McCook's attack, scoring 10 of his team-high 14 points in the first quarter.
The Bison built an 18-12 lead through one quarter and stormed ahead 35-16 by intermission.
Hays netted seven points alone in that 17-4 second period.
They were just about as dominant after halftime, especially with a 20-8 final period.
Gross' left-handed shots were almost impossible to stop during his first double-digit varsity scoring effort this season.
McCook built needed momentum entering a three-game "East-West" showdown starting Thursday night against Class B No. 3 Scottsbluff, who played for a state title last year.
McCOOK (64) -- Kyle Geisler 14 points, DJ Gross 10, Clayton Stevens 8, Hunter Potthoff 8, Gabe Sehnert 8, Hunter Hays 7, Zach Schlager 5, Easton Gillen 2, Morgan Fawver 2. Three-pointers: Geisler 2, Potthoff 2, Stevens 2, Schlager, Sehnert. Rebound leaders: Sehnert 7, Hays 6, Schlager 5. Assists: Gillen 5, Stevens 3. Steals: Gillen 5.