Bison teams open Shootout with wins over Alliance

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Lucas Post (left) of McCook goes up for a shot against Isaac Burnham of Alliance in East-West Shootout boys basketball action Feb. 7 at McCook. Post scored 20 points to lead the Bison to a 60-42 victory.

McCook High School's basketball teams were successful on both ends of the annual East-West Shootout Thursday, Feb. 7.

The third quarter was key for both McCook victories.

The Bison boys outscored Alliance 22-11 in the third period to help McCook claim a 60-42 win at the McCook Senior High gym.

The McCook girls traveled west for three weekend games. The Bison girls started slow at Alliance Thursday, trailing 24-22 at halftime. But McCook came alive in the third period with a 19-11 scoring advantage to help boost the Bison to a 54-41 victory.

The Bison girls also held Alliance to just six points in the final quarter.

IN THE BOYS game at McCook, Lucas Post had a huge night for the winners with a game-high 20 points. Cody Wudtke added 12 points and Mack Alspaugh 11 for the Bison.

Alliance was led by Trevor Kamerzell with 11 points and Isaac Burnham with 10.

The McCook boys face a huge game Friday, Feb. 8 at home against Scottsbluff. The two teams are battling for the top seed in the Class B-6 District Tournament later this month. Scottsbluff ran past host Lexington, 81-33, in first round Shootout action Thursday night. Both McCook and Scottsbluff enter Friday's contest with 16-3 season records.

Tip-off of the varsity game is set for 7 p.m. at the McCook Senior High gym following junior varsity play.

The Bison boys finish the Shootout Saturday, Feb. 9 at home against Gering.

THE McCOOK GIRLS were led by Brenleigh Daum with 16 points.

The Bison set a new school record with the team's 17th victory of the season. That tops the old McCook girls basketball season win total of 16 set by the 2003-04 squad.

McCook will try to improve on the 17-3 record Friday, Feb. 8 at Scottsbluff. The host Bearcats beat Lexington, 46-29, Scottsbluff's second win of the season. Tip-off Friday at the Scottsbluff High School gym is set for 8 p.m. Central Time.

The McCook girls also play at Gering Saturday afternoon, Feb. 9.

IN OTHER Shootout scores Thursday, North Platte's boys topped Gering, 67-46, in North Platte; and the North Platte girls ran past host Gering, 59-39.