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Bison girls 'held together' while facing off with Indians
McCOOK, Neb. — Trailing through a 16-13 football-like first half, McCook High’s girls halftime gameplan could be covered in two words:
No more.
No more pushing these Bison around, nor were Indians running the clock away like last year’s 64-23 mercy-rule victory at Bow.
Nope.
Not even inside enforcer and top scorer Cali Crawford fouling out could deter the McCook girls Tuesday night.
Crawford had already scored a game-high 13 points, but Bison seniors Malia-Mo Hilker and Brooklynn Gillen more than accepted the offensive duties.
Hilker muscled to nine of her 11 points during the fantastically decisive second half.
Mo’s heroics included hitting the final tie-breaking shot which she punctuated with a happy “hop” in front of that Bison student section.
Meanwhile, senior Brooklynn Gillen set six huge points of her eight through those home nets as McCook finished this41-33 comeback victory.
The 9-2 Bison had outscored always tough 7-3 Bow, 28-17, through those final two quarters.
Maybe it did feel a little like Bison football:
Win baby win!
“I thought the girls held together really well in the end,” coach Amy Scheil confirmed. “That third quarter we came out and set the tone of the game a little bit more. We were a little hesitant to shoot the ball tonight but when it counted, they really crashed the boards and scored the ball well.”
Scheil also praised all the Bison girls’ defense against some sharp Bow shooters.
Junior Jaylea Walgren jumped in to grab a team-high nine rebounds while blocking two Indian shots.
Gillen, Hilker and other guards like reserve Aspen Hazlitt hassled those top Bow scorers plus the strong-willed effort from senior Megan Miller.