Tigers rule Cattle Trail boys hoops again

Dundy County-Stratton senior Nolan Burrell matched his jersey number with 20 points to lead the Tigers’ Cattle Trail finals win over Medicine Valley Saturday night

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — New terrific talent keeps making every Cattle Trail championship fun for the Dundy County-Stratton Tigers and coach Kris Freeland.

“It never gets old,” Freeland said following a 62-46 win over previously unbeaten Medicine Valley Saturday night at the Graff Events Center.

The Tigers (4-1 record) could feel satisfied about winning a game much tougher than that final score suggests.

Med Valley (4-1) always seemed to be on the attack behind high flyer Hayden Kramer (16 points) and equally dangerous Sebastian Kramer (17).

However, new Tiger starters like Jackson Kerchal (12 points) helped DC-S gain control of another title in thatt final quarter.

Plus big-game tested senior Lincoln Waters teamed with top scorer Nolan Burrell (20 points) to deliver huge shots whenever Med Valley got too close.

“This is Lincoln Waters’ team,” Freeland said about his senior guard who’s been part of these last three Cattle Trail champion Tiger teams. “But I love how we have younger guys step up, and there are more.”

The Tigers have won four straight since an opening loss at Goodland, Kan., where Freeland said a scoring error took away three points.

“We actually lost by one,” he concluded.

DC-S (62) — Nolan Burrell 20 points, Jackson Kerchal 12, Corbin Horner 8, Lincoln Waters 6, Mark Nelms 6, Quade Myers 4, Alex Englot 4, Serbando Diaz 2. Three-pointers: Burrell 2, Waters.

MEDICINE VALLEY (46) — Sebastian Kramer 17 points, Hayden Kramer 16, Lane Lenz 8, Joe Brown 3, Hudson Stout 2. Three-pointers: S. Kramer 2, H. Kramer 2, Stout.