Bison meet 'Maids in playoff showdown tonight

McCook seniors Jayceea Hanson (left) and Mackenzie Smith battled past Lexington last month, 41-39.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Drama filled the first McCook-Lexingtonbattle this year from two black eyes on sophomore Liviya Wier to classmate Tiara Matson’s two tie-breaking free throws.

The Bison won a 41-39 thriller and now — not quite one month later — these familiar foes play again in tonight’s B-7 subdistrict semifinal.

Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. at North Platte, or about 20-25 minutes following the first semi between No. 1 North Platte and No. 4 Holdrege.

The Bison (10-10 record) are seeded second with a 2-1 record against these three subdistrict foes.

They’ve won six of their nine even despite a 57-50 loss at Scottsbluff in Friday’s regular-season finale.

Senior Mackenzie Smith scored 23 points during that contest, and she’d love to top the 18 poured in against Lex during that Jan. 15 skirmish at McCook High School.

Following that narow defeat, Lexington (6-18 record) rattled off three consecutive wins but the Minutemaids have now dropped four of their last five games.

Another win tonight would move McCook into Wednesday night’s B-7 championship game vs. North Platte (10-9) or Holdrege (4-17).

The Bison defeated those Dusters, 44-38, at Holdrege in December just one night after a forgettable 55-33 defeat to North Platte.

McCook could avenge that defeat, though North Platte is rolling off a road weekend sweep of Gering and Scottsbluff.