Strong scent of victory: Bison win by more than a nose

McCook senior Matthew Nichols stays with this diving steal attempt even if the ball finds his nose during Tuesday's B-7 subdistrict semifinal win over Lexington. Nichols secured the steal as junior Evan Humphrey (below) turned opportunity into 18 game-high points during this 63-31 playoff triumph. Senior Cam Werkmeister also worked through the Minutemen (bottom photo) while McCook secured its 19th win (19-6) this season and a B-7 finals showdown with Hastings or Grand Island Northwest Wednesday night at McCook High. Watch for more updates.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Scoring summary and each quarter highlights from McCook's B-7 subdistrict 63-31 semifinal win over Lexington Tuesday night.

FIRST QUARTER

Trailing 5-0, senior Josh Hegwood's two three-pointers awoke the No. 1 Bison offense. Junior Adam Dugger drilled another before senior Brendan Gillen's buzzer-beating triple made it 18-10 through one. Don't forget junior Jacob Gomez-Wilson finding brother Lucas Gomez-Wilson to finish a fast break with two points.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

SECOND QUARTER

The Bison really started to roll with Humphrey mixing driving bank shots and another triple for seven points total. Dugger added four as the margin reached 37-18 by intermission.

THIRD QUARTER

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCook coasted through a 15-13 period though there were several sharp cuts and passes for some precise teamwork. No Bison scored more than Gillen's four but five other Bison tallied points.

FOURTH QUARTER

An 11-point Bison final period featured junior Coleton Lentz hitting his first varsity three of this season.

SCORING SUMMARY

BISON (19-6 record) — Evan Humphrey 18 points, Josh Hegwood 9, Cole Cappel 7, Brendan Gillen 7, Adam Dugger 7, Cam Werkmeister 4, Jacob Gomez-Wilson 4, Lucas Gomez-Wilson 4, Coleton Lentz 3. Three-pointers: Hegwood 2, Humphrey 2, Gillen, Dugger, Lentz.

MINUTEMEN (5-19) — Senior Isaac Scharff's eight points paced Lexington with six each from juniors Kaden West and Daum Daum.