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Playoff win has Bison girls feeling ready for B-7 final tonight
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Nothing like 19-2 to start the playoff run as McCook High’s girls pounced on Hastings like hungry tigers Monday night.
“We hit the floor hot,” senior Kori Rippen said about this B-7 subdistrict semifinal against Hastings at Northwest High School. “Really, it started prior to the game because we were thinking ‘we’re gonna get this win’.”
The No. 2-seed Bison did prevail, 55-46, with four starters scoring in double figures and tireless full-court pressure.
“We knew we could force them (Hastings) into some mistakes,” junior Paige Bortner said.
Bortner started fast while delivering many of her 14 points during that 19-2 opening flurry.
Rippen worked inside to score 15, yet both Bison veterans recognized younger teammates also brought some sizzle to this pressure-packed, win-or-season-is-done contest.
Sophomore Jaylea Walgren smoked an early three-pointer through the Northwest net to spark her varsity-best 12-point effort.
Freshman Cali Crawford’s known to make long-distance connections. Yet she also attacked inside and followed up missed layups with huge offensive putbacks.
Crawford totaled 11 points and a Bison-high 10 rebounds.
“It’s been rewarding to see younger girls like Cali and Jaylea step up,” Bortner confirmed. “Cali being a freshman and Jaylea not playing varsity last year. But they both have really helped us this year.”
The Bison (10-11 record) zoomed to 33 first-half points. In fact, 55 represented their second highest point total this season behind only a 60-43 victory at Cozad on Dec. 12.
Yet the McCook girls also showed they could handle some frosty moments like 4 1/2 minutes without a point starting Monday’s second half.
Solid defense still protected most of the 33-18 halftime lead as hustling Bison like junior Malia Hilker drew charging fouls on those Tigers.
McCook finally ended the scoring drought when junior reserve Roslyn Weimers established strong inside position.
She caught a teammate’s air ball shot on one bounce, then quickly scored before any Tiger could react.
Wiemers’ putback regained Bison momentum as their lead returned to its 15-point margin (51-36) just like halftime.
However, Hastings hit two three-pointers and seemingly within two blinks — the Tigers were close at 51-45.
Coach Amy Scheil called time-out because still more than 60 seconds remained.
When play resumed, the Bison calmly ran about 20 seconds off that clock leading to Rippen hitting two free throws.
Rippen finished an impressive five-for-six performance at the charity stripe.
“Something was on tonight,” was all she said about those made free throws.
McCook shot better than 54 percent at 19 for 35 from two-point range compared to Hastings barely topping 30 percent — 11 for 36.
Bortner made six of 11 field-goal tries while Rippen finished five of 11.
Perhaps just as impressive was some shots Rippen did not take. Instead, her pinpoint passes led to a team-best six assists.
“We’ve been working on passing the ball inside out to open shooters,” she said. “That’s my favorite pass.”
“Having girls like Cali and Jaylea who can shoot opens the floor for all of us,” Bortner added.
The Bison now get ready to play tonight’s B-7 subdistrict championship game against No. 1 Northwest on those Vikings’ home floor in Grand Island. Opening tip is 6 p.m.
“I feel we’re really prepared for this game,” Rippen said. “It will be a great matchup.”
Bison leaders from their B-7 subdistrict semifinal win over Hastings Monday night:
McCOOK (10-11 record) — Kori Rippen 15 points, Paige Bortner 14, Jaylea Walgren 12, Cali Crawford 11, Roslyn Wiemers 2, Malia Hilker 1. Three-pointers: Walgren, Crawford.
Rebound leaders: Cali Crawford 10, Rippen 9, Bortner 5. Assists: Kori Rippen 6, Bortner 3, Hilker 2. Steals: Cali Crawford 4, Bortner 2, Walgren 2. Blocked shots: Kori Rippen 2. Pass deflections: Paige Bortner 5, Hilker 3.
HASTINGS (5-16) — Grayce Beck’s 14 points topped the Tigers with Emma Landgren tossing in another 12.
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