CCS boys fall in subdistrict opener to Cozad

    Nothing’s ever easy for a fourth seed against the top seed. That was true last Tuesday when the Chase County boys’ basketball team, seeded fourth in the C1-11 subdistrist, took on top seeded Cozad.
    The teams met in the season’s first game Dec. 1 and CCS erased a 4-22 first quarter deficit to claim a 59-49 win.
    Cozad had something different in mind this time around.
    Both teams were patient on offense to start the game, neither lit up the scoreboard. CCS trailed 0-5 with four minutes gone in the game, before Stephen Murray got the Longhorns on the board with a three pointer at the three minute mark. After a Jensen Olsen bucket, another field goal by Murray with 30 seconds left in the first quarter tied the game at 7-7.
    Both teams found a groove in the second quarter, with Murray leading the way for the Longhorns. Murray hitting two field goals around a put back by Zane Mays. Trailing 13-17, back-to-back baskets by Jensen Olsen and Easton Fries gave CCS its first lead of the game, 18-17.
    That lead grew to 23-19 after a Kade Anderson layup in transition and conventional three-point play by Camron Lempke. After giving up five-straight points to the Haymakers, a basket by Murray on a give and go from Olsen gave CCS a 25-24 halftime advantage.
    The third quarter, however,  got away from the Longhorns. A second three-point play by Lempke gave CCS its final lead of the game, 28-26. From there, Chase County wouldn’t score for the next five minutes until Anderson hit a three pointer with just over one minute left in the quarter.
    Despite CCS trailing by as many as 12 in the third quarter, the game was far from over. Three baskets by Olsen kept the Longhorns within 10 points, 37-47. Buckets by Lempke and Anderson, followed by two free throws by Lempke, gave Chase County eight-straight points and with 55.6 remaining in the game, CCS only trailed 43-47.
    Cozad was clutch from the charity stripe down the stretch. The Haymakers made six-straight free three throws, only matched by two free throws by Lempke, put the game to bed even before a three-point play by Cozad ended scoring with Chase County losing 45-56.
    Lempke scored 12 points, including making 6-7 free throws, to lead the Longhorns. Murray ended the night with 11 points and Olsen scored 10.
    Anderson and Olsen each nabbed five rebounds.
    CCS did a good job limiting turnovers in the game, only committing six, while taking advantage of Cozad turnovers to out score the Haymakers 19-4 in points off turnovers.
    The Longhorns even out scored Cozad 8-0 in second chance points, but the CCS held a distinct disadvantage in rebound department, 18-30.
    The biggest problem for Chase County came from its three-point shooting. While the Longhorns made 50% of their two point shots, CCS only made 3-22 three point attempts.
    Holdrege advanced to the subdistrict final with a 47-46 win over second seeded Gothenburg. The Dusters went on to upset Cozad 70-68 in the finals and played fifth seed  Omaha Concordia Tuesday night in the C1-5 district final.
    Wahoo claimed the top seed of districts, followed by Ogallala. Sidney, which CCS lost to 32-67 Dec. 9, is the sixth seed.