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Vikings' rally brings unfriendly end to Bison girls' season
McCOOK, Neb. — They hang out acting all unfriendly even to the home team in McCook High’s gymnasium.
They’re so often creatures of darkness that one can almost hear Clint Eastwood snarling “Get off my lawn! Made baskets. Like Nebraska, they’re not for everyone.”
“Shut the rims, those girls are back again!”
Indeed, the McCook Bison and Northwest Vikings kept coming back Tuesday night to see who will take aim at 25-1 Omaha Skutt Saturday afternoon.
The B-7 title game bounced momentum around like ping pong with missed shots or unfriendly rolls off rims.
Yet only did McCook build a 30-20 advantage at one point, the senior-led girls showed enough tenacity to rally during overtime.
They could have turned out the lights after Northwest’s 15-1 made it 35-31.
Senior Shawna Wilkinson said “we’re not leaving”when she missed that rim completely and swished a corner three-pointer.
The Vikings struck again to lead 38-34 with barely one minute remaining.
No worries. Senior Joy Rippen calmly turned to spread happiness among all McCook Bison.
Her triple from the right wing closed McCook within a point once again at 38-37.
Northwest added one free throw but missed the second to set up one final Bison tying or GAME-WINNING shot.
The final three didn’t hit rim or net.
It still didn’t affect how McCook had practiced and worked for months to deliver one final spirited performance in this B-7 subdistrict final.
Seniors Rippen, Wilkinson, Tori Honn, Gracie Wiemers and Kennedy Walter all led their team in most every category whether it be points, rebounds or assists.
The 10-14 Vikings’ most important edge was 40 rebounds to McCook’s 26. Besides six more shots, they outscored McCook at the free-throw line, 14-10.
Northwest (10-14 record) moves on to play a Class B district final at Omaha Skutt Catholic Saturday afternoon.
Don’t expect a friendly greeting. The Skyhawks have won 20 straight since a Dec. 19 loss to Bishop O’Dowd, Calif., and none has been closer than 21 points.
The Bison finish 8-14 with their last win featuring a 26-4 first quarter at Ogallala on Feb. 3.
They made their first field goal about four minutes into Tuesday’s game when Wilkinson finally said enough of this on her driving lay-up.
Rippen soon hit from long range for a 6-3 lead.
Though the Vikings netted five straight points, McCook still led 16-13 into halftime.
Senior Gracie Wiemers’ triple broke an 11-11 deadlock. The next Bison shot missed only to set up Wilkinson’s smooth putback jumper.
Sophomore Brooklyn Gillen turned defense into offense starting the second half. Her steal near mid-court and assist to Walter made it 22-17.
Wiemers soon went three-topping pizza again from long distance.
When Rippen found Walter to assist on a mid-range jumper, the Bison had their 10-point lead at 30-20.
The rest was mostly unfriendly rim history.
BISON (37) — Joy Rippen 10 points, Shawna Wilkinson 10, Gracie Wiemers 8, Kennedy Walter 5, Tori Honn 3, Brooklyn Gillen 1. Three-pointers: Wiemers 2, Rippen 2, Wilkinson. Rebound leaders: Rippen 5, Wiemers 5, Wilkinson 4, Paige Bortner 4. Assists: Walter 2, Rippen 2, Gillen 2. Steals: Walter 2, Gillen 2. Blocked shots: Gillen 2, Rippen.
VIKINGS (40) — senior Avyn Urbanski’s 17 pointns, six rebounds and six steals paced Grand Island Northwest. Sophomore Reagan McIntyre added 10 points, nine rebounds.
Season wrap
McCOOK, Neb. — A recap of McCook High girls’ leaders through their 22-game season:
Points per game: Shawna Wilkinson 11.9, Joy Rippen 7.7, Brooklyn Gillen 6.7.
Three-pointers: Shawna Wilkinson 31, Rippen 29, Gillen 14, Gracie Wiemers 11.
Free-throw percentage: Gracie Wiemers 83%, Wilkinson 75%, Gillen 63%.
Rebounds per game: Tori Honn 4.5, Wilkinson 3.9, Rippen 3.7, Kenndy Walter 3.7.
Assists: Joy Rippen 39 , Shawna Wilkinson 39, Walter 32, Rippen 29.
Steals: Shawna Wilkinson 53, Gillen 49, Rippen 44, Walter 31.
Blocked shots: Kennedy Walter 6, Joy Rippen 6.
Pass deflections: Gracie Wiemers 65, Gillen 56, Wilkinson 50, Paige Bortner 48, Honn 46, Walter 45.