Menu
Bison tie Bow, but Indians prevail in OT
McCOOK, Neb. — Unlike what happened in Washington, D.C., persistence was a beautiful sight Tuesday evening at McCook High School.
The Bison brilliantly erased a 10-point deficit with 4:36 remaining, catching Broken Bow 41-41 on senior Ty Stevens’ jumper over 6’5” shot-blocking machine Dylon Baum.
“It would have been easy for our guys to let up on defense. Instead, they upped their intensity which was good to see,” Bison coach Joe Imus remarked.
Yet just like our nation’s capital, visitors could not be kept out of the Bison baskets during overtime.
Keegan Baxter’s three-pointer ignited three consecutive made Bow shots, and the Indians held on for a 51-47 win over determined McCook.
“Keegan was 0-for-something, but he showed the confidence to step up and take the big shot,” Bow coach Nate Olson observed as his Indians earned their fifth win this season (5-4 record). “This is always a tough place to play, and we knew it would be a very physical, scrappy game tonight.”
“We’re just happy to escape with a win.”
The Bison (4-7 overall) dropped their second game since a double-OT victory over Chase County at Sidney’s Cabelas Holiday Tournament last week.
“I hoped playing overtime two games ago, that experience would have helped,” Imus said. “We handled the ball well which was a positive and we got good looks. The shots just didn’t fall tonight.”
Sophomore Adam Dugger did drop a trio of three-pointers through the nets. One clutch triple started McCook’s climb from a 40-30 hole with 4:36 remaining.
The Bison defense started forcing Bow miscues, and junior Cole Cappel’s breakaway layup off a steal made it 40-37.
Stevens took charge from there, making the next two Bison baskets to complete this comeback.
His swished shot at the 12-second mark ensured McCook would take the Indians into overtime.
“Ty always does a good job, getting rebounds and doing our dirty work,” Imus confirmed.
Dugger delivered again from long distance as his big shot broke into the 48-43 Bow lead.
However — rather than work the clock — Bow quickly worked inside to draw another Bison foul.
The visitors made both free throws to regain a 50-46 advantage.
Senior Mark Arp made one free throw for McCook, but no other shots would fall to finish this first game of 2021.
Sophomore Evan Humphrey swished two more three-pointers during the third quarter to help his team stay within rally range.
Overall, McCook made just five of 37 threes compared to 10-for-30 during that win over Chase County.
They finished better inside the arc (11 for 33) largely because Stevens hit 50 percent (five for 10).
All the Bison kept battling around Baum’s seven blocked shots.
“That is a career best for him,” Olson revealed.
Junior Brendan Gillen swatted away an early Indian shot and sparked a good Bison start.
They took a 7-5 lead on Dugger’s first trifecta.
Stevens hustled back to put those Bison in front, 9-7, and Cappel soon made a perfect pass into Gillen which set up free throws.
Yet McCook cooled a bit during the second period as Bow tallied eight straight points to move ahead, 17-11.
Senior Isiah Stoddard scored off a Gillen assist for the only Bison field goal during that eight-minute stretch.
The Indians took a 21-17 advantage into halftime.
Bow moves on to play Holdrege Friday night while the Bison will host a 1-8 Gothenburg squad.
McCOOK (47) — Ty Stevens 14 points, Adam Dugger 9, Evan Humphrey 8, Cole Cappel 6, Mark Arp 3, Brendan Gillen 3, Luke Maris 2, Isaiah Stoddard 2. Three-pointers: Dugger 3, Humphrey 2. Rebound leaders: Humphrey 6, Arp 5, Cappel 4. Assists: Arp 4, Maris 2. Steals: Stevens 5, Arp 5. Blocked shots: Stoddard, Gillen, Arp.