Bison boys stun 'Dawgs with last shot

COLUMBUS, Neb. — Trailing 71-70, McCook High’s potential game-winning play quickly fell apart...

And turned more quickly into improvised brilliance!

“We had a play set up,” coach Joe Imus said about the final seconds of their GNAC tournament third-place game against Gering Friday afternoon. “But it wasn’t there, so the kids created their own opportunity.”

The ball actually bounced loose until junior Mark Arp regained it for McCook.

Arp had already two clutch triples for a 70-64 only to see Gering rattled off seven straight points.

Yet now it was Arp’s turn to put a pass into fellow Bison quarterback Cam Berry’s hands.

Berry quickly made one majestic floating shot for a 72-71 Bison advantage.

Though 2.5 seconds still remained, Gering could nothing more than fire up an “air ball” as the buzzer sounded.

The Bison evened their season record at 4-4 and shook off a 25-point loss to unbeaten Scottsbluff on Thursday.

McCook featured four double-figure scorers in sophomore Cole Cappel’s 15 points, Arp’s 14 (all during the second half), Berry’s 12 and another 11 for senior Bryan Leslie.

All four hit huge baskets in a 24-point Bison fourth quarter.

Leslie returned from a mid-game injury to spark McCook’s winning surge. His layup forged the biggest Bison lead all game of 58-51 with just more than six minutes remaining.

However, Bulldog sharpshooters quickly answered in a furious 24-22 final period. Senior 6’4” forward Bryce Sherrill drilled 22 game-high points, including one final dagger to give Gering its 71-70 lead.

Junior Brett Pszanka netted another 17 points and senior Kolton Ebbbers added 16.

“We let a seven-point lead slip away,” Imus confirmed. “But our guys did a great job of responding.”

Senior Konor Rakes also connected on a fourth-quarter triple.

He added eight points, sophomore Josh Hegwood scored six and junior Jordan Chauncy tossed in two points.

Gering slipped to 2-8 overall.

The Bison were less offensive throughout a 57-38 GNAC final loss against host Columbus on Saturday.

“We didn’t shoot too well and dug ourselves a 10-point hole early,” Imus said about the 19-9 first quarter which became a 32-18 margin entering halftime. “We have to get better with our decision making. But we saw some good signs and improvement defensively.”

Columbus raised its record to 5-4.

No individual stats were obtained except the Columbus Telegram reported Berry totaled a Bison-best 11 points.

The Bison (4-5 overall) move on into another three-game week starting Tuesday night at winless Broken Bow (0-8).

They’ll visit 1-7 Gothenburg Friday night and host 1-9 Sidney on Saturday.

“They are winnable games,” Imus concluded.

Hastings knocked off Scottsbluff, 60-52, to decide the GNAC champ.