McCook Bison nearly topple North Platte

The McCook High School boys basketball team were a few missed chances away from knocking off North Platte Friday night at the MHS gymnasium.

The North Platte Bulldogs, despite not making a field goal in the fourth quarter, escaped from McCook with a 54-48 win.

"It was a magnificent effort by the kids," said Bison boys coach Tim Garcia, whose squad dropped to 6-7 and will play Kansas Class 5A power Liberal in the first round of the Colby Orange and Black Classic next week.

"I told the kids not to worry about the score and have fun. My hat's off to North Platte -- they played a great game. I could not ask for any of an effort from the kids. We were undersized and did a great job."

North Platte jumped out to an 11-6 first quarter lead and led the Bison 17-7 early in the second period. The Bulldogs led at halftime 30-23.

McCook closed within 3 points in the fourth quarter before North Platte salted the game away.

North Platte hit 12 free throws in the final quarter and 16-of-26 for the game. McCook hit 14-of-20 foul shots.

Cory Gaston, whose father Rod celebrated his 50th birthday Friday, led the Bison w

ith 16 points, including 7-of-8 free throws and a 3-pointer.

Josh Cherry added 10 points.

Three Bison scored 5 points each -- Dillon Goltl, Brett Burton and Seth Schaeffer. Goltl played just a few minutes in the fourth quarter and hit a 3-pointer.

Matt Berry added 3 points, Eric Rippen 2 and Zach Wieser 2.

Wieser led the Bison in rebounds with 6, followed by Gaston with 3. Cherry had 3 assists and 3 steals. Gaston got 1 blocked shot.

Kyle Obermeier led the Bulldogs with 13 points. Travis Jurgens and Jason States each scored 9, Dan Kenny 8 and Braka Matlock 7.

McCook JV boys 50,

North Platte 49

The McCook Bison junior varsity boys basketball team held on for a 50-49 win over North Platte Friday night in the MHS gymnasium.

McCook led 29-22 at halftime and 41-30 after three quarters, but the Bulldogs outscored McCook 19-9 in the fourth quarter.

Zach Wieser led McCook in scoring with 8 points.

Three players scored 6 each -- Chris Stull, Seth Schaeffer and Tyrone Sellers. Montrez Hines scored 5.

Four Bison scored 4 points each -- Matt Berry, Dillon Goltl, Jeff Lorentz and Aaron Ruppert.

Three players scored 1 each -- Mike Grabowski, Ryan Hardin and J.D. Stone.

Jerrod Pavelka led North Platte with 15 points. Adam Way added 8 and Braka Matlock 6.

North Platte: Jurgens 9, Collins 4, Kyle Obermeier 13, Kenny 8, Baumann 4, Matlock 7, States 9.

McCook: M.Berry 4, Josh Cherry 10, Goltl 5, Cory Gaston 16, Rippen 2, Wieser 2, Burton 5, Schaeffer 5.

McCook: M.Berry 4, Goltl 4, Lorentz 4, Hines 5, Wieser 8, Grabowski 1, Hardin 1, Stull 6, Schaeffer 6, Ruppert 4, Stone 1, Sellers 6.

North Platte: Standage 5, Jerrod Pavelka 15, Tighe 3, Evans 5, Lauber 2, Matlock 6, Erickson 2, Way 8, D.States 1, Hayes 2.