McCook girls bury Rams with first-half flurry

McCook junior Brecken Gale was part of a Bison attack that got everyone involved during their 63-13 Louisville Holiday Tournament trouncing of Ralston Thursday afternoon. The 7-2 Bison meet Nebraska City in today’s 3:30 p.m. title game.

Tami Pochop/Courtesy Photo

LOUISVILLE, Neb. — Maybe one fact tells Thursday’s story more than any other:

The McCook Bison stole twice as many basketballs (26) from Ralston as those Rams scored points (13).

A 17-0 start to the New Year also looks real good except compared with McCook’s 40-2 lead just before halftime.

The Bison could cruise through a second half where they still outscored Ralston, 23-6, adding up to a 63-13 Louisville Holiday Tournament victory.

Now McCook can capture a championship if the Bison beat Nebraska City in today’s 3:30 p.m. championship game.

Ironically, the Bison captured last year’s Nebraska City Holiday Tourney title.

There’s virtually no stopping a team that crashes inside for 23 offensive rebounds to go with those 26 steals.

It also showed McCook’s relentless speed and hustling attitude that covered all of those eight games ending 2024.

Junior Jaylea Walgren crashed this party for seven offensive boards among her team-high 10.

All four Malia Hilker rebounds were on the offensive end while senior classmate Paige Bortner pulled in four among her five basketballs secured.

Yet again, nothing could really match senior Brooklynn Gillen’s team-leading 11 steals.

Gillen made several backcourt swipes before Ralston called an opening timeout already down by way too much.

Sophomore Cali Crawford’s 15 points topped the Bison while Gillen finished with 14.

Yet Bison reserves like senior Lacyn Keller delivered most of her six points during those opening eight minutes.

Aspen Hazlitt is another Bison who’s been making an impact. She totaled seven points in nine minutes on Thursday with four more offensive rebounds and three steals.

Senior Megan Miller also turned an offensive rebound into two points.

BISON (7-2) — Cali Crawford 15 points, Brooklynn Gillen 14, Jaylea Walgren 8, Aspen Hazlitt 7, Paige Bortner 6, Lacyn Keller 6, Malia Hilker 4, Megan Miller 2, Lilley Gans 2. Three-pointers: Crawford, Walgren, Hazlitt.

Rebound leaders: Jaylea Walgren 10, Bortner 5, Gillen 5, Hilker 4, Hazlitt 4.

Assists: Paige Bortner 3, Hilker 2, Gillen 2, Crawford 2.

Steals: Brooklynn Gillen 11, Bortner 4, Hazlitt 3. Blocked shot: Cali Crawford.