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Physical foes should get Bison ready for B-7 'push'
McCOOK, Neb. — They’re just close enough to really not like each other sometimes.
Well, maybe Scottsbluff and Gering girls get along fine now — or not — but these two neighboring teams were once seen scuffling in a hallway to their locker rooms following an emotional game many years ago.
The McCook girls will get a good look at these cross-river Panhandle rivals before hosting next week’s Class B-7 subdistrict at McCook High.
Not surprisingly, Gering and Scottsbluff bring some common traits: they don’t back down from bumps.
“Both are very physical teams that really get up and down the floor well,” McCook coach Amy Scheil confirmed. “Scottsbluff seems to shoot better, but both teams have a similar style of play.”
The Gering Bulldogs arrive today for a 5:30 p.m. game and another shot at McCook.
They might even remember Bison junior Tiara Matson.
Who could forget Matson’s sharp shooting eyes during a 7-for-10 performance from three-point range in January?
The Bison won that GNAC tourney game, 67-51, at Columbuss.
Ironically, McCook just matched that season-high total in a 67-60 win at Ainsworth Saturday where Matson scored 18 team-high points.
Gering (6-16 record) counters with junior Chloe Fries, who averages 13 points a contest and put in 16 against McCook on Jan. 4
Scottsbluff (12-9) invades North Platte today leading into Friday’s regular-season finale at McCook High.
Opening tip is also 5:30 p.m. with the boys’ varsity game to follow.
The Bearcats’ better shooting has been evident during three wins over rival Gering — including 72-36 on Dec. 17 and 60-39 on Jan. 25.
“Our girls will need to be at the top of their game to get both wins,” Scheil concluded about these games. “We will need to make sure we are running our fast break and putting pressure on them.”
Bison girls earn home playoff game
McCOOK, Neb. — One path to the state tournament will start in McCook as those Bison girls are hosting next week’s B-7 subdistrict tourney.
McCook (8-11 record) has earned more power points than B-7 foes Holdrege (8-12) or Lexington (2-18).
NSAA officials confirmed McCook High will host the B-7 Monday and Tuesday.
No. 2 Holdrege and No. 3 Lexington play the Monday 5:30 game with that winner meeting McCook at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The champion advances into Class B district finals where 16 teams will be re-seeded to play state-qualifying games.
Holdrege owns two wins over Lexington this season by nearly identical scores of 33-29 and 38-29.
The Bison beat Holdrege, 43-39, at McCook High on Dec. 21 as juniors Liviya Wier (12 points) and Emma Kehler (10 rebounds) led this hard-fought victory.
However, McCook dropped its game against Lexington, 50-41, on Jan. 21 which stopped a 14-game Lex slide.