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Bison paved path into title game with many clutch performances
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — How you like them McCook holiday apples in beautiful Nebraska City?
Tasty!
Trailing 30-26, junior Gabe Gans’ three-pointer put juice into a 15-4 run and sent McCook boys to their 60-44 Holiday Tournament win over those host Pioneers Thursday night.
The 6’5” Gans’ first game action in 20 points featured 18 points on both inside and outside shots.
He also found open teammates like senior Mitchel Cole, who powered 13 points through those N.C. nets.
Yet don’t forget junior Josiah Wilkinson, sophomores Bryson Gullion or Brody Graham teaming for another 20 points.
The fourth quarter was basically “B.G.”-rather as Graham and Gullion dominated through this 16-6 final Bison drama.
McCook (5-3 record) captured a fourth consecutive win spanning from Nebraska City to Kearney to Goodland, Kan., these last two weeks.
“We were a little rusty,” coach Joe Imus confirmed about McCook’s first game since Dec. 16 vs. Holdrege. “But I’m proud of how we pulled together especially in the second half.”
The Bison outscored their hosts, 38-18, after that midway break while overcoming an early 15-7 deficit.
Nebraska City has started 1-7 but played some basketball powers like Wahoo and Ashland-Greenland.
The Pioneers were quick and aggressive against McCook. In fact, no Bison never contained senior guard Kalan Fritsch from scoring 28 game-high points.
However, baseball shortstop Gullion’s triple put McCook ahead to stay at 32-30.
Wilkinson hit his own long ball before hustling and finding Gans, whose next trifecta made it 39-32.
Gans finished inside to start the fourth quarter just before Jon Patel’s perfect pass turned into a Cole basket and 52-44 advantage.
Sophomore Miles Pollmann’s ensuing steal and layup all but finished the Pioneers’ hopes at 55-44.
BISON (5-3) — Gabe Gans 18 points, Mitchel Cole 13, Josiah Wilkinson 8, Bryson Gullion 7, Brody Graham 5, Miles Pollmann 4, Kaiden Porter 2, Jon Patel 1.